Variants in RETN gene are associated with Steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head risk among Han Chinese People

Abstract Introduction Gene polymorhisms has an important influence on RETN gene expression level, and the increased level of resistin encoded in RETN will lead to metabolic disorder, especially lipid metabolism. Moreover, steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head (steroid-induced ONFH) is closely related to lipid metabolism level, so this study aims to explore the association of RETN Polymorphisms with susceptibility to steroid-induced ONFH in the Chinese Han Population.Methods In this case-control study, eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of RETN were genotyped by Agena MassARRAY system in 199 steroid-induced ONFH patients and 200 healthy controls. The association between RETN polymorphisms and steroid-induced ONFH risk was evaluated using genetic models and haplotype analyses. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by logistic regression adjusted for age.Results We found significant differences in the distribution of HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C between the patients and the control group (p < 0.05). In allele model and genotype model analysis, rs34861192, rs3219175, rs3745368 and rs1477341 could reduce the risk of steroid-induced ONFH. Further stratified analysis showed that rs3745367 was related to the clinical stage of patients, and rs1477341 was significantly correlated with an increased TG level and a decreased TC/ HDL-C level. The Linkage analysis showed that three SNPs (rs34861192, rs3219175) in RETN even significant linkage disequilibrium.Conclusions Our results provide the firstly evidence that RETN gene polymorphisms were associated with a reduced risk of steroid-induced ONFH in Chinese Han Population.