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Polymorphisms of BLK are associated with renal disorder in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Previous studies are inconclusive on the relationships between BLK gene polymorphisms and clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The present study aimed to estimate association between BLK loci and SLE clinical features in Chinese population. Associations between BLK single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and susceptibility to SLE in this study were estimated using data of 1205 health controls previously reported in the same population. And a total of 814 SLE patients recruited from two different sources according with ACR criteria were analyzed for genotype–phenotype associations. A meta-analysis was conducted of the associations between BLK loci and renal disorder in SLE. The expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) data were also extracted from the public databases for the selected SNPs. Significant associations were observed between these SNPs and susceptibility to SLE. In addition, the data showed that rs2618479 and rs7812879 were associated with renal disorder [OR = 1.51 (95% CI: 1.15, 1.99) and 1.61 (95% CI: 1.21, 2.14), Pcorr = 0.033 and 0.011, respectively] and proteinuria [OR = 1.47 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.95) and 1.52 (95% CI: 1.14, 2.03), Pcorr = 0.048 and 0.040, respectively]. The consistent associations were observed in two independent centers as well as new cases group. The result of meta-analysis for rs2618479 was also significant [OR = 1.35 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.62)]. In addition, bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that the two SNPs were significantly associated with the expression of BLK in whole blood and several immune cells. Our data support that variant loci of BLK are associated with presence of renal disorder in patients with SLE.

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Funding

This study was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grants 81602914 and 81502871).

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RL provided direction and guidance throughout the preparation of this paper. DD, QY, XW, LZ, XW, RL, and QH investigated the patients’ data. DD, QY, XW, and JN analyzed the data and prepared the tables and the figures. DD, QY, and XW drafted the paper. RL and DD reviewed and made significant revisions to the paper. All authors reviewed and approved the final paper.

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Correspondence to Ruixue Leng.

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Di, D., Ye, Q., Wu, X. et al. Polymorphisms of BLK are associated with renal disorder in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. J Hum Genet 65, 675–681 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s10038-020-0756-4

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