Association between BLK polymorphisms and susceptibility to SLE : A meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to explore whether B‑cell lymphocyte kinase (BLK) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in ethnically diverse populations.

Methods: We conducted a meta-analysis of the association between the BLK rs13277113 A/G, rs2736340 T/C, rs2248932 T/C, and rs2618476 G/A polymorphisms and SLE.

Results: Seventeen studies with 22,701 patients and 36,365 controls were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a significant association between SLE and the BLK rs13277113 A allele (OR = 1.359, 95 % CI = 1.292-1.429, p < 1.0 × 10^-8), and stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between this allele and SLE in Caucasians, Asians, and Africans (OR = 1.315, 95 % CI = 1.252-1.380, p < 1.0 × 10^-8; OR = 1.415, 95 % CI = 1.287-1.555, p < 1.0 × 10^-8; OR = 1.361, 95 % CI = 1.194-1.550, p = 3.6 × 10^-6). A significant association between SLE and the rs2736340 T allele (OR = 1.354, 95 % CI = 1.286-1.426, p < 1.0 × 10^-8) was also observed, and stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between the risk allele and SLE in Caucasians and Asians (OR = 1.333, 95 % CI = 1.259-1.412, p < 1.0 × 10^-8; OR = 1.525, 95 % CI = 1.339-1.736, p < 1.0 × 10^-8). Meta-analysis also revealed a significant association between SLE and the BLK alleles rs2248932 T and rs2618476 G (OR = 1.285 95 % CI = 1.228-1.345, p < 1.0 × 10^-8; OR = 1.374, 95 % CI = 1.294-1.468, p < 1.0 × 10^-8), and stratification by ethnicity indicated an association between these alleles and SLE in Caucasians and Asians.

Conclusions: This meta-analysis confirms that polymorphisms in the BLK alleles rs13277113 A/G, rs2736340 T/C, and rs2248932 T/C are associated with susceptibility to SLE in Caucasian and Asian populations.

Keywords: BLK; Meta-analysis; Polymorphism; SLE.