Objectives: To discuss the associations of SNPs of TLR5, TLR9 and transduction molecules in MyD88 signaling pathway with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) risk in Zhuang and Han ethnics and to compare the difference between the two ethnics.
Methods: PCR and direct sequencing method were used to detect gene polymorphisms of TLR5, TLR9 and transduction molecules in MyD88 signaling pathway in 77 patients with SLE and 72 healthy controls, in order to explore their relationships with SLE incidence and compare the differences in genotypes and allele frequencies between groups.
Results: TLR5 rs5744168 gene polymorphism was unrelated with SLE susceptibility of Guangxi Zhuang and Han. Among the Han population, there was a statistically significant difference in TLR9 rs352140 genotype frequency between SLE group and control group (P = 0.043). In the Han and Zhuang populations, there were no significant differences in MyD88 rs7744 genotype and allele frequencies (all P > 0.05) between SLE group and control group; but there was a statistically significant difference in allele frequencies between the case group and the control group (P = 0.033). For TRAF6 rs5030472, GA + AA genotype frequency of Zhuang SLE group was significantly higher than that of control group and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.006); an allele frequency was also significantly higher. IRF5 rs2004640 GG/TT genotype and the corresponding G allele frequencies of Zhuang SLE group were significantly higher than that of control group, with statistically significant differences (P = 0.008 and P = 0.000, respectively).
Conclusion: TLR5 rs5744168 gene polymorphism may have no correlation with SLE susceptibility in Guangxi Zhuang and Han populations; TLR9 rs352140 gene polymorphism may be associated with SLE susceptibility in Guangxi Han population, while TRAF6 rs5030472 and IRF5 rs2004640 gene polymorphisms may relate to SLE susceptibility in Guangxi Zhuang population.
Keywords: Han nationality; SLE; TLR5; TLR9; Zhuang nationality.