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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease which is closely related to genetic background. Single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been found to play an important role in the development of RA. This study intends to investigate the links between gene polymorphisms in the interleukin‐23 receptor (IL23R) and interleukin 17A (IL17A) and susceptibility to RA in the Western Chinese Han population. Four SNPs (rs6693831 T > C, rs1884444 G > T, and rs7517847 T > G in IL23R gene, and rs2275913 G > A in IL17A gene) were genotyped in 246 RA patients and 362 healthy controls by high resolution melting analysis. The comparative analyses among genotype distributions, clinical indicators, and IL‐17A and IL‐23R levels in RA patients were also performed. The study revealed that the SNP rs6693831 and rs1884444 of IL23R had a significant association with RA susceptibility. The frequencies of rs6693831 genotype CC and allele C were significantly higher in the RA group and associated with higher RA risk compared with genotype TT and allele T (OR = 7.797, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.072–14.932 and OR = 5.984, 95%CI = 3.190–11.224, respectively). The TT genotype of rs1884444 appeared to decrease the RA risk compared with the GG genotype (OR =.251, 95%CI =.118–.536). The genotype CC and allele C of rs6693831 and the genotype GG and allele G of rs1884444 may be risk factors for RA. IL23R gene polymorphisms may be involved in the risk of RA susceptibility in the Western Chinese Han population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The rs73620203 locus is correlated with RA susceptibility, and the genotypes carrying the T allele are protective factors of RA. The same findings were illustrated in female RA patients. • Among the three genotypes CC, CT, and TT of rs73620203, serum osteocalcin and BALP levels were significantly lower in the TT genotype than in the CC and CT genotypes, while serum β-CTX levels were not significantly different. • It is inferred that T allele at rs73620203 in TGIF gene may be related to the role of the rs73620203 locus in regulating the TGIF gene expression and thus regulating the function of the Smad signaling pathway. • It is suggested that TGIF gene polymorphisms perhaps can be regarded as novel markers for predicting the risk of developing RA. To explore the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the transforming growth interacting factor (TGIF) gene with bone metabolism markers and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility. Three SNPs were genotyped in 155 RA patients and 168 healthy controls using high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis. The serum levels of osteocalcin, bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), and β type I collagen-crosslinked C telopeptide (β-CTX) were detected using electrochemical luminescence in 108 patients randomly selected from the RA group. Genotype and allele frequency analysis showed that rs73620203 was associated with bone erosion in RA (P = 0.012 and P = 0.003, respectively), and individuals carrying the T allele for rs73620203 showed a decreased RA risk (OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.42–0.84; P = 0.003). In sex-specific analysis, the rs73620203 polymorphism was associated with susceptibility to RA in women (P = 0.022 and P = 0.006, respectively). In addition, RA patients with three genotypes at the rs73620203 locus showed significant differences in serum osteocalcin and BALP (P = 0.006 and P = 0.037, respectively). Haplotype analysis revealed that the haploid ATG and GCA frequencies were significantly lower in the RA group (P = 0.036, OR = 0.693; P = 0.002, OR = 0.189, respectively), while the haploid ACA frequency of the RA group was enhanced (P < 0.01, OR = 5.058). Our study provides the first evidence that rs73620203 is associated with RA susceptibility and the relationship between TGIF gene SNPs and the regulation of bone metabolism in RA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]