Abstract
Background: Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) and small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO4) are key transcription factors involved in the regulation of immune responses and apoptosis. The aim of this study is to test for the association of NF-kappa B and SUMO gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility and severity of psoriasis among Saudi cases.
Subjects and Methods: This is a case controlled study including 85 Saudi psoriasis patients in addition to 92 matched healthy unrelated controls from the same locality. For all participants, DNA was analyzed by PCR for characterization of NF-kappa B1 -94 del/ins ATTG, NF-kappa B IA 2758 A>G and SUMO rs237025 G>A gene polymorphisms.
Results: Compared to controls, psoriasis patients showed a non-significant difference for all frequencies of genotypes and alleles of NF-kappa B1 ins/del, NF-kappa B1A A>G and SUMO4 G>A polymorphisms (p>0.05). However, cases with the plaque type had significantly higher frequency of the SUMO4 A allele carriage (GA+AA genoytpes) than the guttate type (78.6% vs. 21.4%, p=0.02). The PASI score was also significantly higher among cases with the NF-kappa B1A AA genotype than other cases (p=0.00).
Conclusion: Genetic polymorphisms of NF-kappa B1-94 ins/del ATTG, NF-kappa B IA 2758 A>G and SUMO4 rs237025 G>A were not associated with the susceptibility to psoriasis vulgaris in Saudi patients. However, it might be associated with the expressivity of the disease in terms of its clinical type and severity.