Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the microRNA target sequence in CXCR4 and the susceptibility to knee osteoarthritis (KOA).
Methods: A total of 305 patients with KOA and 305 healthy controls were recruited into this study. The genotypes of CXCR4 rs1804029 and rs17848060 loci were analyzed.
Results: The susceptibility to KOA of CXCR4 rs1804029 G allele carriers was 1.33 times (95% CI: 1.09-1.54, P = .006) that of T allele carriers. The KOA susceptibility in individuals carrying T allele at CXCR4 rs17848060 locus was 1.38 times that of individuals carrying A allele (95% CI: 1.17-1.57, P < .001). The G allele at CXCR4 rs1804029 locus was the target of hsa-miR-146a-3p, while the A allele at CXCR4 rs17848060 locus could be targeted by hsa-miR-20a-3p. The plasma level of hsa-miR-146a-3p was lower in rs1804029 G allele carriers than T allele carriers (P < .001), whereas plasma level of hsa-miR-20a-3p was higher in rs17848060 T allele carriers than A allele carriers (P < .001).
Conclusion: The SNPs at rs1804029 and rs17848060 loci in CXCR4 were significantly associated with the susceptibility to KOA in Han Chinese population.
Keywords: CXCR4; KOA; SNP; gene-gene interaction; microRNA.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.