The genetic association between polymorphisms in lymphotoxin-α gene and ankylosing spondylitis susceptibility in Chinese group: A case-control study

The study was designed to reveal the genetic relationship of lymphotoxin-α (LTA) polymorphisms with risk of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Chinese Han population. LTA polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-direct sequencing (PCR-DS) in 138 AS patients and 141 healthy controls. The genotype distribution in control group was checked the status of Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). Odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI) calculated by χ(2) test was used to show effects of LTA polymorphisms on AS risk. Logistic regressive analysis was used to calculate the adjusted OR values. Additionally, the linkage disequilibrium of LTA polymorphisms was examined by Haploview. G allele of rs909253 was significantly higher frequency in AS patients (P = .02), which was associated with the increased risk of AS (OR = 1.53, 95%CI = 1.07–2.18). The carriages of GG genotype in rs909253 showed a high risk of AS occurrence, compared with AA genotype carriers (OR = 2.46, 95%CI = 1.13–5.35). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the G allele (OR = 1.52, 95%CI = 1.05–2.15) and GG genotype (OR = 2.36, 95%CI = 1.06–5.24) of rs909253 were still positively associated with AS susceptibility. However, there was no significant association between AS risk and rs2239704 or rs2229094. LTA rs909253 polymorphism contributes to the occurrence of AS.