Intronic Polymorphism Associated with Risk of Neurological Disorders in SLE

The researchers also found a decreased concentration of IL-4 in the supernatant of activated T cells from SLE patients who carry the TT genotype. “Our findings suggest that the TRPC6 genotypes influence the function of circulating immune cells and associate with the risk of developing [neuropsychiatric SLE],” write the authors.

TRPC6 appears to influence calcium currents, apoptosis rates and cytokine secretion, all in a disease- and genotype-dependent manner. Thus, gene variants associated with the intron polymorphism may at least partially account for the heterogeneity of SLE patients.

Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer based in the Chicago area.

Reference

1. Ramirez GA, Coletto LA, Bozzolo EP, et al. The TRPC6 intronic polymorphism, associated with the risk of neurological disorders in systemic lupus erythematous, influences immune cell function. J Neuroimmunol. 2018 Dec 15;325:43–53.