Polymorphisms of Pre-miR-499 rs3746444 T/C and Pre-miR-146a rs2910164 C/G in the Autoimmune Diseases of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the West of Iran

Background: The present research is a case-control study to analyze the influence of pre-miRNA-146a rs2910164 and pre-miRNA-499 rs3746444 polymorphisms as candidate susceptibility factors for both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods: Polymorphism in miR146 and miR499 using ARMS-PCR was genotyped on 139 autoimmune disease (AD) patients (89 RA and 50 SLE) referred to Educational Hospitals of Khorramabad, Lorestan Province, west of Iran in 2018-2019 and 237 healthy control subjects. Results: A significant increase in the likelihood of carrying the GC vs. GG of pre-miR146-rs2910164 and T vs C allele of pre-miR499-rs3746444 in patients with RA was found. On the contrary, patients with RA were less likely to carry the TC + CC vs TT genotype and the C vs T allele of pre-miR499-rs374644. In females with the GC vs GG and GC + CC vs GG genotypes, a significant association was found with the increased risk of RA. Interestingly, the genotypic combination of TC of the pre-miR499-rs374644 with GG of pre-miR146-rs2910164 more strongly decreased the risk of RA. In patients with SLE, no notable associations were found between both pre-miRNA-146a rs2910164 and pre-miRNA-499 rs3746444 with risk of disease. Conclusion: Genetic polymorphisms of miR146 rs2910164 is associated with RA susceptibility especially in females. Interestingly, there is a potential in miR499 to reduce the risk with the protective effect of gene-gene interactions on miR146 in RA disease.