Association of F cγ RIII a‐158V/F with systemic lupus erythematosus in a Chinese population

Aim It has long been a controversy that polymorphisms in F cγ RIII a ( CD 16A) receptors are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus ( SLE ). We aimed to verify the association of F cγ RIII a polymorphisms with SLE in a large Chinese population. Methods We genotyped F cγ RIII a‐158V/F (rs396991) using a pyro‐sequencing assay ( PSQ 96 MA ) in a total of 732 individuals with SLE (390 lupus nephritis and 342 non‐lupus nephritis) and 886 controls. Meta‐analysis was used to examine the association of the F cγ RIII a‐ F 158 allele with SLE and lupus nephritis with RevMan 5. Results The allele frequencies of F cγ RIII a‐ F 158 were significantly increased in SLE ( OR 1.293, 95% CI 1.111–1.505, P  = 0.0009). There was significant skewing in the distribution of F cγ RIII a genotypes between SLE patients and controls ( P  = 0.0026 for 158  F / F vs . 158 F / V and 158 V / V , OR 1.604, 95% CI 1.089–2.361). Serositis was more common in patients with the F cγ RIII a‐ F 158 allele and Fcγ RIII a‐F/F genotype, and low complement was more common in patients with the F cγ RIII a‐ F / F genotype. There was no skewing in the distribution of F cγ RIII a genotypes in the lupus nephritis group. No association was found for the frequencies of the F cγ RIII a‐ F 158 allele and 158 F / F genotype compared with the V 158 allele and F / V plus V / V genotypes, respectively, between lupus nephritis and SLE without nephritis patients in a meta‐analysis of 11 Asian studies. Conclusion Our results suggest that the low‐binding allele F cγ RIII a‐158 F is one of the risk factors for SLE in the Chinese population.