J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2005 Jun;12(2):108-115.

Association between Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Gene Polymorphism and Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Song JK
• Shin HY
• Lee YS
• Hwang JH
• Kwon YS
• Jeong YJ
• Lee YJ
• Kang SW

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by the interaction of multiple mediators, especially cytokines. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is a proinflammatory cytokine and has been shown to be involved in RA. This study explored the association of the MIF gene polymorphism with RA in Korean.
METHODS
114 patients with RA, and 114 age and gender matched healthy controls were studied. Patients and controls were genotyped for a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the 5'-flanking region at position -173 of the MIF gene.
RESULTS
No significant differences in MIF gene polymorphism were observed in RA compared to healthy controls. No association with disease severity was detected for the MIF gene polymorphism.
CONCLUSION
MIF -173 G/C polymorphism did not appear to be associated with genetic susceptibility and disease severity in Korean RA patients.

Keyword

Rheumatoid arthritis; Macrophage migration inhibitory factor; Polymorphism

MeSH Terms

Arthritis, Rheumatoid*
Cytokines
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Humans
Macrophages*
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Cytokines