β2 Adrenoceptor gene single nucleotide polymorphisms are associated with rheumatoid arthritis in northern Sweden

Background: beta(2) Adrenoceptor (beta(2)-AR) represents a link between the sympathetic nervous system and the immune system, and may be involved in human rheumatoid arthritis ( RA). The gene encoding beta(2)-AR contains three single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) at amino acid positions 16, 27, and 164. Objective: To examine the common variants at positions 16 and 27 and their association with RA. Methods: An allele-specific polymerase chain reaction to determine the common variants at positions 16 and 27 was used in 154 patients with RA and 198 ethnically matched healthy subjects from northern Sweden. Results: Carriage of Arg16 and of Gln27 was associated with RA. Carriage of Gln27 was associated with activity of the disease and in combination with non-carriage of Arg16 with higher levels of rheumatoid factor. Conclusion: The beta 2-AR SNPs may thus constitute an additional non-major histocompatibility complex association in RA.