The polymorphisms of the Fc receptor-like 3 gene (FCRL3), a new immunoregulatory gene, have been shown to be associated with certain autoimmune diseases. Recently, the FCRL3 −169C/T (rs7528684) single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has been demonstrated to be a risk factor of several auto immune diseases. Objective: This study was aimed to determine whether the FCRL3 −169C/T (rs7528684) (SNPs) was associated with susceptibility to Graves' disease (GD) in an Egyptian population and to investigate the association between the FCRL3 −169C/T and thyroid stimulating hormone receptor antibody level (TSHRAB). Subjects and Method: SNPs; −169C/T in FCRL3 were detected using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 40 patients with Graves' disease and 30 age and sex-matched healthy control. Results: The frequency of FCRL3, −169C/T (rs7528684) C allele was significantly higher in GD patients than controls, (P < 0.016, OR = 1.198, and CI (95%) = 1.033–1.386) and C/C genotype was also significantly higher (P < 0.001, OR = 5.375, and CI (95%) = 2.28–15.46). The level of (TSHRAb) was also significantly higher in those with the CC genotype than in those with the TT genotypes (P=0.0006). The result revealed that the frequency of C allele was significantly more in female GD patient than those in controls (p =0.045, OR=1.206, and CI (95%) =1.007-1.444), no significant difference was detected between in male GD patients and control. In conclusion, genetic differences in the FCRL3 gene may be involved in development and activity of GD. C/C genotype of the FCRL3−169C/T polymorphism may be considered as a predictable factor for disease intractability and the minor T allele may be contributed to disease remission. |
