Study of urotensin-2 (T21M and S89N) gene polymorphisms in systemic sclerosis

BackgroundSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is an immune-mediated fibrotic disease. Urotensin II (UTS2) is a new peptide with vasoactive and fibrogenic features, an association of UTS2 gene polymorphisms with SSc has been reported in the Turkish population.ObjectivesTo study the possible association of UTS2 (T21M and S89N) gene polymorphisms with SSc in Egyptian patients.Methods41 SSc patients and 70 healthy control subjects were genotyped for UTS2 (T21M and S89N) polymorphisms by TaqMan real-time PCR and PCR-RFLP, respectively.ResultsThe frequency of the S/N genotype and N allele of UTS2 S89N were significantly higher in SSc patients as compared to the healthy controls (p = 0.037, OR 4.60; p = 0.041, OR 4.26, respectively). The Rodnan score was significantly higher in SSc patients carrying the combined (T/M + M/M) genotype of UTS2 T21M polymorphism as compared to those with the wild T/T genotype (p = 0.018).ConclusionUTS2 (T21M and S89N) gene polymorphisms may play an important role in the susceptibility and the clinical outcome of SSc in Egyptian patients.