A common variant of LDL receptor related protein 2 (LRP2) gene is associated with gout susceptibility: a meta-analysis in a Japanese population

Gout, which results from elevated serum uric acid (SUA), is a common form of arthritis that is induced by urate crystals. A single nucleotide polymorphism, rs2544390, of LDL receptor related protein 2 (LRP2/Megalin), has previously been reported to be associated with SUA by a genome-wide association study in a Japanese population. However, it was controversial as to whether rs2544390 is associated with gout in a Japanese population, since previous studies with Japanese populations have reported an association between gout and rs2544390 both with and without significance. This prompted us to investigate the association between gout and rs2544390 of LRP2. Using 1208 clinically diagnosed gout patients and 1223 controls in a Japanese male population, our results showed that while rs2544390 did not show a significant association with gout susceptibility in the present study (p = 0.0793, odds ratio [OR] with 95% confidential interval [CI] 1.11 [0.99–1.24]). However, a meta-analysis using previous studies on Japanese populations revealed a significant association with gout (p(meta) = 0.0314, OR with 95% CI 1.09 [1.01–1.18]). We have therefore for the first time confirmed a positive association between rs2544390 and gout with only a Japanese male population. Our study provides clues to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of gout and has the potential to lead to novel therapeutic strategies against gout using LRP2 as a molecular target.