This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Lee, Y H Articles by Song, G G Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Lee, Y H Articles by Song, G G Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Intron 4 polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene is associated with the development of lupus nephritis

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

H J Kim

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

Y H Rho

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

S J Choi

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

J D Ji

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea

G G Song

Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea, gsong{at}ns.kumc.or.kr

The objective was to investigate whether the functional polymorphism of intron 4 in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene is associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its clinical features. The 27-bp repeat polymorphism in intron 4 of the eNOS gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction in 88 SLE patients and 95 healthy control subjects. Clinical manifestations were analysed in each patient and correlated with the genotypes. The genotype distribution of the intron 4 of the eNOS did not differ between SLE patients and control subjects (aa, ab, bb genotypes 0, 15, 73 versus 2, 19, 74 controls respectively, chi-squared 2.21, 2 df, P 0.331). In the lupus patients according to the intron 4 genotypes of the eNOS, there was no clinically significant difference in age at onset, anti-dsDNA titre, C3, C4 level, SLEDAI, SLICC/ACR Damage Index, or autoantibodies such as RF, anti-Ro, La, RNP, Sm, or phospholipid antibodies. However, renal involvement was higher in patients with ab genotypes than in those with bb genotypes (53% versus 26%), but it did not reach statistical significance (P 0.062). Logistic regression showed that having the ab genotype was a significant risk factor for the development of lupus nephritis (odds ratio 3.28, 95%CI: 1.04-10.2, P 0.04). In conclusion, our data show that the eNOS ab genotypes may be associated with the development of lupus nephritis, suggesting individuals who carry the ‘a’ allele are more susceptible to lupus nephritis than those with the ‘b’ allele.

Key Words: eNOS • polymorphisms • systemic lupus erythematosus

Lupus, Vol. 13, No. 3, 188-191 (2004)
DOI: 10.1191/0961203304lu516oa


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T Mucenic, J. Brenol, M Bredemeier, B Paiva dos Santos, J. Chies, O. Monticielo, and R. Xavier Glu298Asp eNOS polymorphism is not associated with SLE Lupus, April 1, 2009; 18(5): 448 - 451. [Abstract] [PDF]

				V. Vazgiourakis, P. Sidiropoulos, G. Bertsias, E. Koutsounaki, E. Fragouli, A. Raptopoulou, H. Kritikos, D.T. Boumpas, and G.N. Goulielmos Association of the nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene polymorphism with increased risk for both lupus glomerulonephritis and rheumatoid arthritis in a single genetically homogeneous population Lupus, November 1, 2007; 16(11): 867 - 874. [Abstract] [PDF]