Vitamin D receptor gene BSMI polymorphisms in systemic lupus erythematosus and healthy subjects

Abstract

Background: Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene polymorphisms cause functional differences in immunomodulatory action of vitamin D. An association between VDR gene BSMI polymorphisms and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been documented. Objective: To compare the VDR gene BSMI polymorphisms in patients with SLE and healthy controls. Methods: This was a case-control study conducted in the city of Mashhad (Iran). Sixty patients with lupus from two outpatient rheumatology clinics and 45 non-relative healthy controls of the same sex were selected using the census procedure. VDR gene typing was performed based on polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The results were analyzed using chi square test while a p