TGF beta1 polymorphisms are candidate predictors of the clinical response to rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between several candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and responsiveness to rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

METHODS

Sixty-three RA patients were included. Nine genes (13 SNPs) were subsequently analyzed, including those coding for cytokines involved in synovitis (IL10, LTA, TGFβ1, TNF-α, TNF receptor II) and genes associated with RA susceptibility (-C5 TRAF1, STAT4, TNFAIP3 and PTPN22).

RESULTS

Forty-four patients were defined as responders and 19 as nonresponders. TGFβ1 Codon 10 and TGFβ1 Codon 25 SNPs were both associated with clinical response (probability to respond to treatment with the Codon 10C/T genotype: OR = 1.6; P = 0.002, and with the Codon 25 G/C genotype: OR = 1.6; P = 0.025). The probability to be a responder when the TGFβ Codon10 C/T and TGFβ Codon 25 G/C genotypes were co-inherited, doubled (OR = 2.6; P = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

The TGFβ1 SNPs are associated with a good response to rituximab therapy and as such could be useful genetic biomarkers in predicting therapy outcome.