Influence of the MIF polymorphism -173G > C on Turkish postmenopausal women with osteoporosis

Abstract

Background: MIF, a proinflammatory cytokine, contributes to the pathogenesis of acute, chronic, and autoimmune inflammatory disorders and balances the suppressive effect of glucocorticoids on the immune system. There is an interaction between bone metabolism and the immune system via the production of cytokines. We aimed to analyze the relationship between the MIF gene -173G > C promoter polymorphism and osteoporosis.

Methods: In this case-control study performed in a university hospital, 286 samples (136 women with osteoporosis and 150 healthy age-matched controls) participated. The polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay was used to genotype the MIF gene polymorphism. The alleles and genotypes frequencies of patients and controls were compared using the χ² test.

Results: The genotype frequencies of MIF gene -173G > C polymorphism showed statistically significant differences between patients and controls (p = 0.038). Also, the subjects carrying the variant C allele in the MIF -173 position were at significantly higher risk of osteoporosis than subjects carrying the wild-type G allele (p = 0.009, odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.1-2.6).

Conclusion: Our study suggested a strong association between MIF gene -173G > C polymorphism and osteoporosis in a Turkish population.

Keywords: Genetic susceptibility; MIF; Osteoporosis; Polymorphism.