Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an antibody-mediated autoimmune disease against antigens at the neuromuscular junction. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the susceptibility of MG. We undertook a case-control study to explore the contribution of genes of the auto-antigen and immune-modulating proteins in the pathogenesis of MG. We enrolled 389 adult MG patients and 487 healthy controls. Eighteen SNPs were selected from genes of cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 1 (CHRNA1), autoimmune regulator (AIRE), cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4), protein tyrosine phosphatase nonreceptor type 22 (PTPN22), and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Rs16862847 and rs2229957 in CHRNA1, rs3761389 in AIRE, and rs733618 in CTLA-4 were significantly associated with MG, with the highest association in SNPs of CHRNA1. Carrier of rs16862847 G allele was found to be an independent risk factor in predicting high-level acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibodies (P = 0.003, OR = 10.296). Genetic interaction analysis revealed a synergistic effect of CHRNA1 (rs16862847), AIRE (rs3761389), and CTLA-4 (rs733618) in the susceptibility of MG (P < 0.0001, OR = 1.95). These findings highlight the role of auto-antigen gene (CHRNA1) in the autoimmune reactions against AChR and reveal synergistic contribution of genes of both auto-antigen and immune-regulating proteins (AIRE and CTLA-4) in the pathogenesis of MG.
Keywords: Autoimmune regulator (AIRE); Cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 1 (CHRNA1); Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4); Gene polymorphisms; Myasthenia gravis.