RESEARCH ARTICLE
Lack of CTGF*-945C/G Dimorphism in Thai Patients with Systemic Sclerosis
Worawit Louthrenoo*, 1, Nuntana Kasitanon1, Ramjai Wichainun1, Suparaporn Wangkaew1, Waraporn Sukitawut1, Yuka Ohnogi2, Shoji Kuwata3, Fujio Takeuchi2
Article Information
Identifiers and Pagination:
Year: 2011Volume: 5
First Page: 59
Last Page: 63
Publisher ID: TORJ-5-59
DOI: 10.2174/1874312901105010059
Article History:
Received Date: 18/7/2011Revision Received Date: 13/8/2011
Acceptance Date: 22/8/2011
Electronic publication date: 19/10/2011
Collection year: 2011
open-access license: This is an open access article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/) which permits unrestricted, non-commercial use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly cited.
Abstract
An association between connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) gene dimorphism at –945 (CTGF*-945C/G) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) has been reported with inconclusive results. We performed this study to determine whether such an association exists among Thai patients with SSc. DNA samples were taken from 50 Thai SSc patients (diffuse SSc in 39 and limited SSc in 11) and 99 healthy controls for determination of CTGF*-945C/G dimorphism by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific oligonucleotide primers. The associations between the genotype frequencies, clinical manifestations and auto-antibodies were determined as well. When compared with the controls, SSc patients had no significantly higher frequencies of the GG genotype (44.0% vs 39.4%, p = 0.60), G allele (63.0% vs 65.2%, p = 0.80) or G phenotype (82.0% vs 90.9%, p = 1.0). There was no association between the presence of the GG genotype and clinical manifestations (pulmonary fibrosis, sclerodactyly, digital pitting scars, telangiectasia and pulmonary arterial hypertension), or the presence of auto-antibodies (anti-Scl-70, anti-SSA/Ro, and anti-RNP). In conclusion, we found no association between CTGF*-945C/G dimorphism and Thai SSc patients.
