Possible association of CYP17 gene polymorphisms with the onset of rheumatoid arthritis

Objective The etiologic role of sex hormones in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been di scussed. Cytochrome P450c 17 alpha (CYP17) regulates steroidogenesis and th e restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of the CYP17 gene are r elated to serum sex hormone production. In this study, the relationship bet ween CYP17 gene RFLPs and RA was investigated. Methods Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of 91 male and 285 fema le patients with RA, as well as from 380 male and 579 female controls, and the RFLPs of the CYP17 gene (denoted as the A1 and A2 alleles) were determi ned. Clinical variables were recorded for the RA patients. Results There were no significant differences in CYP17 genotype distribution betwee n the male RA patients and male controls, nor between the female RA patient s and female controls. RA patients with the A2 allele tended to develop the disease at a younger age than those without (in men 50.1 vs 54.7 yrs, p = 0.15; in women 43.9 vs 47.4 yrs, p = 0.038). In women, halting the A2 allel e was a weak protective factor against developing RA at an older age (odds ratio: 0.63, 95% confidence interval: 0.41 - 0.95, p = 0.026). Conclusion The RFLPs of the CYP17 gene may constitute a disease modifying factor throu gh sex hormone production.