Association of SNPs in PLA2R1 with idiopathic and secondary membranous nephropathy in two Chinese cohorts

Objectives: Specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor-1 (PLA2R1) are associated with increased risk of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) in European populations. We hypothesized links between IMN and SMN with these SNPs in two Chinese cohorts. Methods: A cohort of 166 IMN patients and 144 controls from southern China (Group A) and a cohort of 212 IMN patients, 118 SMN patients, and 162 controls from northwestern China (Group B) were recruited. SNPs within PLA2R1 (rs3749119, rs3749117, rs35771982, rs3828323, and rs4664308) were identified and the frequencies of genotypes and alleles were determined for the different groups. Results: Relative to controls, IMN patients had a greater prevalence of rs35771982, rs3749117, and rs4664308 in Group A (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.13-2.31, P = 0.011; OR = 1.62 (1.15-2.29), P = 0.006 and OR = 1.17 (1.06-1.28), P = 0.001, respectively) and in Group B (OR = 1.58 (1.13-2.22), P = 0.009; OR = 1.68 (1.22-2.33), P = 0.002 and OR = 1.15 (1.06-1.25), P