Association between genetic variants of microRNA‐21 and microRNA‐155 and systemic lupus erythematosus: A case‐control study from a Chinese population

BACKGROUND: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disease, and its pathogenesis remains unclear. The alteration of genetic materials is believed to play a role in SLE development. This study evaluated the association between the genetic variants of microRNA‐21 (miR‐21) and microRNA‐155 (miR‐155) and SLE. METHODS: The SNaPshot genotyping method was used to detect the genotypes of selected SNPs in patients and controls. The expression of miR‐21 and miR‐155 was analyzed using reverse transcription‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). The functional annotation and the biological effects of SNPs were assessed by HaploReg V4.1 and Regulome DB V2.0 software. The Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium test was used to gather statistics, and odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were evaluated by logistic regression. RESULTS: The distribution difference of TA genotype in rs767649 was observed (TA vs. T/T: OR = 0.68, 95%CI, 0.48–0.95, p = 0.026). There was a significant difference in the T/A + A/A (T/A + A/A vs. T/T: OR = 0.68, 95%CI, 0.49–0.94, p = 0.020). A significant difference in T allele distribution was found in the depressed complement of SLE (T vs. A: OR = 0.67, 95%CI, 0.47–0.95, p = 0.026). There were significant differences in genetic variants of rs13137 between the positive and the negative SSB antibodies (Anti‐SSB) (T vs. A: OR = 0.67, 95%CI, 0.47–0.95, p = 0.026; T/A + T/T vs. AA: OR = 2.23, 1.18–4.49, p = 0.013). The expression levels of miR‐21 and miR‐155 were significantly higher in patients than in controls (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides novel insight that genetic variants of rs767649 and rs13137 are associated with susceptibility to SLE.