A TNFSF13B functional variant is not involved in systemic sclerosis and giant cell arteritis susceptibility.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The TNFSF13B (TNF superfamily member 13b) gene encodes BAFF, a cytokine with a crucial role in the differentiation and activation of B cells. An insertion-deletion variant (GCTGT→A) of this gene, leading to increased levels of BAFF, has been recently implicated in the genetic predisposition to several autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and rheumatoid arthritis. Based on the elevated levels of this cytokine found in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) and systemic sclerosis (SSc), we aimed to assess whether this functional variant also represents a novel genetic risk factor for these two disorders.

Methods

A total of 1,728 biopsy-proven GCA patients from 4 European cohorts, 4,584 SSc patients from 3 European cohort

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez-Serna D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6306228 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature