Mevalonate kinase gene polymorphisms in ankylosing spondylitis patients: A cross-sectional study

Fatih Yıldız1, Suzan Dinkçi2, Eren Erken3

1Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü Imam University Faculty of Medicine, Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye
2Immunology and HLA Laboratory, Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Türkiye
3Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, Adana, Türkiye

Keywords: Ankylosing spondylitis, autoinflammation, mevalonate kinase gene, periodic fever.polymorphism.

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of the mevalonate kinase (MVK) gene polymorphisms on the pathogenesis and clinical findings in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients.

Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 103 participants (63 males, 40 females) between January 2013 and January 2014. Of these, 51 (32 males, 19 females; mean age: 37.3±10.2 years; range, 19 to 60 years) were adult AS patients who met the 1984 Modified New York Criteria, and 52 (31 males, 21 females; mean age: 33.8±12 years; range, 19 to 60 years) were healthy volunteers with similar demographics. MVK gene analysis was performed using polymerase chain reaction sequencing by isolating deoxyribonucleic acids from peripheral blood samples. We determined serum immunoglobulin (Ig)D levels using radial immunodiffusion. We performed physical examinations on the AS patients. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index forms were filled and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and IgD levels were recorded.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the mean age between the groups (p=0.121). The frequency of symptomatic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), c.769-38 C>T heterozygous, c.769-7 T>G heterozygous, and c.769-38 C>T homozygous were similar between the groups (15/15; p=0.646). Nonsymptomatic SNPs were more common in the patient group, but the difference was not significant (83/58; p>0.05). The rate of having an MVK gene polymorphism was 36 (70.6%) in the AS compared to the 33 (63.4%) in the control group (p>0.05). There were no associations in clinical findings between the AS patients with or without MVK gene polymorphisms. New heterozygous SNPs, I56V A>G, E281D G>D, V80I G>A, and C173Y G>A, were present in four AS patients.

Conclusion: The frequency of MVK gene polymorphisms was higher in AS patients than in healthy controls. But there was no statistically significant difference. We determined no effect of the present polymorphisms on AS clinical and laboratory findings.

Citation: Yıldız F, Dinkçi S, Erken E. Mevalonate kinase gene polymorphisms in ankylosing spondylitis patients: A cross-sectional study. Arch Rheumatol 2023;38(2):238-248. doi: 10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2023.9468.

Ethics Committee Approval

The study protocol was approved by the Cukurova University Clinical Research Ethics Committee approval (No 3, dated 02.01.2013). The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Author Contributions

Collection data: F.Y.; Made genetic analysis: S.D.; Contributed to the writing of the article: F.Y., E.E.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Financial Disclosure

This study was supported by Cukurova University Scientific Research Projects (BAP) fund as a project no TF2013LTP3 (2013).

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Dr. Ertan Kara from the Department of Public Health, Cukurova University, who contributed to the statistical analysis.

Data Sharing Statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.