The Role of miR-146a Polymorphism (rs2910164 C/G) and Expression with disease activity in Iraqi Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multifaceted autoimmune disorder that impacts around 1–2% of the worldwide populace. miR-146a is a microRNA that plays a role in modulating gene expression and inflammatory reactions. SNPs in miR-146a have been investigated for their possible implications association with susceptibility or resistance to infectious and inflammatory diseases. Objectives: This research sought to establish the correlation among the miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism, the expression levels of miR-146a, and the activity of RA Methods: A case-control investigation was carried out with 100 participants, comprising 50 patients with rheumatoid arthritis who attended the Chronic Arthritis Disorders Department at Baghdad Teaching Hospital-Medical City in Iraq and 50 healthy controls matched for age and gender. Disease activity in the RA group was assessed using the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28). Genotyping of the miR-146a rs2910164 (C/G) polymorphism was performed using high-resolution melting polymerase chain reaction (HRM-PCR), while miR-146a expression levels were assessed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Results: The findings indicated no notable disparities in genotype distribution, allele frequencies, or polymorphism frequency of miR-146a rs2910164 among rheumatoid arthritis patients and the control group. Nonetheless, the expression levels of miR-146a were markedly elevated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to healthy individuals (P < 0.01). Additionally, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis revealed that miR-146a expression exhibited significant sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing RA patients from healthy individuals. Conclusions: The G/G genotype and G allele of the miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism were observed more commonly in RA patients compared to healthy controls, however these variations lacked statistical significance. On the flip side, RA patients had significantly higher levels of miR-146a expression, suggesting that this altered gene's potential as a biomarker for the disease is worth exploring. Confirmation of its diagnostic efficacy and clarification of the possible involvement of the rs2910164 polymorphism in rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility require additional research.