Association of caspase-1 gene polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthritis risk in a Chinese Han population.

• The CASP1 rs2409062 polymorphism correlates with a higher risk of RA. • This polymorphism relates with females, age ≥ 55, CRP-positive, or DAS28 < 3.20. • The level of CASP1 protein in the plasma of RA cases rised significantly. • RA cases displayed greater levels of CASP1 mRNA versus the control group. The goals of present research are to investigate if the genetic polymorphisms in the caspase-1 (CASP1) gene are associated with the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the clinical characteristics of the illness in Han patients from China. Our team studied the CASP1 rs2409062 A/G polymorphisms in 1095 healthy controls and 805 RA patients, while the genotype was identified via a custom-by-design 48-Plex single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) scan™ Kit. The mRNA expression levels of the CASP1 in 40 RA cases and 40 healthy controls were detected by qRT-PCR, while blood plasma levels of the CASP1 in 40 RA cases and 40 paired controls measured via ELISA. Our research showed that the CASP1 rs2409062 A/G polymorphisms were related to an elevated risk for RA. By stratified analysis, our team discovered a remarkably elevated RA risk in females sufferers, age ≥ 55, CRP-positive, or DAS28 < 3.20. In contrast to the control group, the mean level of CASP1 protein in the plasma of RA cases rised significantly. Moreover, RA cases displayed significantly greater levels of CASP1 mRNA versus the control group (P < 0.05). Those outcomes reveal that the CASP1 rs2409062 A/G gene polymorphisms are associated with an elevated risk for RA in a Chinese Han population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]