No association of polymorphisms of the CTLA-4 exon 1(+49) and promoter(-318) genes with rheumatoid arthritis in the Korean population

The aim of this study is to investigate the significance of the polymorphisms of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) exon 1(+ 49) and promoter(-318) genes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Polymerase chain reaction of genomic DNA-restriction fragment length polymorphism was used to determine genotypes of the CTLA-4 exon 1(+ 49) and promoter(-318) in 86 RA patients and 86 healthy control subjects. There was no significant difference in genotype, allele and phenotype frequencies of the CTLA-4 exon 1(+ 49) and promoter(-318) genes between RA patients and control subjects. There was no significant difference in age at onset, severity, functional class (greater than or equal to 3), physician global assessment, ESR, CRP or RF titer in patients with RA according to the CTLA-4 polymorphisms. Our data show that the polymorphisms within the CTLA-4 exon 1(+ 49) and promoter(-318) genes are not associated with susceptibility to RA and its clinical/serological manifestations in the Korean population.