Role of STAT4 polymorphisms in systemic lupus erythematosus in a Japanese population: a case-control association study of the STAT1-STAT4 region
2008

Role of STAT4 Polymorphisms in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Japanese Population

Sample size: 614 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Aya Kawasaki, Ikue Ito, Koki Hikami, Jun Ohashi, Taichi Hayashi, Daisuke Goto, Isao Matsumoto, Satoshi Ito, Akito Tsutsumi, Minori Koga, Tadao Arinami, Robert R. Graham, Geoffrey Hom, Yoshinari Takasaki, Hiroshi Hashimoto, Timothy W. Behrens, Takayuki Sumida, Naoyuki Tsuchiya

Primary Institution: University of Tsukuba

Hypothesis

Is STAT4 associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Japanese population?

Conclusion

The same STAT4 risk allele is associated with SLE in both Caucasian and Japanese populations.

Supporting Evidence

  • The study confirmed a strong association of the rs7574865T allele with SLE.
  • Population attributable risk percentage was estimated to be higher in the Japanese population (40.2%) than in Americans of European descent (19.5%).
  • Significant association was not observed for STAT1.

Takeaway

This study found that a specific gene variant is linked to a disease called lupus in Japanese people, just like it is in Caucasians.

Methodology

The study involved a case-control analysis of 52 SNPs in the STAT1-STAT4 region among 308 SLE patients and 306 controls.

Limitations

The study did not perform correction for multiple testing.

Participant Demographics

308 SLE patients (18 males, 290 females) and 306 healthy controls (119 males, 187 females), all Japanese.

Statistical Information

P-Value

4.9 × 10-6

Confidence Interval

1.71

Statistical Significance

p<0.01

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/ar2516

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