Genetic Engineering Discuss a doctoral thesis on the effect of genotypes and gene expression of MiR 146A and TLR-4 in rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship with disease activity.

The Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Postgraduate Studies/University of Baghdad discussed the thesis of doctoral student “Lama Yassin Musa,” titled: “The effect of genotypes and gene expression for both MiR146A and TLR-4 in rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship with disease activity in a sample of Iraqi patients.” This was held in the discussion room at the institute.
The study aimed to determine the role of the miR-146a gene and the TLR-4 gene and their genetic variants in the development and severity of the disease, along with examining immune biomarkers associated with rheumatoid arthritis, including C-reactive protein (CRP), rheumatoid factor (RF), and anticyclic citrullinated peptide. (ACCP) in a sample of Iraqi patients.
The results obtained from the study indicated that the average age of patients who were diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis is approximately middle age, from 40 to 60 years, and the majority of them were female, at a rate of 84%. Comparing this group with healthy people, no significant differences were observed. Statistics in terms of mean age, gender, body mass index, and family history of rheumatoid arthritis. However, there was a significant increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) among rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to healthy individuals (p<0.01).
The study recommended that there was an increase in the gene expression of miR-146a and TLR-4 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis compared to healthy people, indicating their possible involvement in the development of the disease.
It also recommended that serum miR-146a could be used as a potential biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis.
The study concluded that there is strong evidence that there is no significant difference between patients and healthy people in terms of the miR-146a gene polymorphism, while it was found that polymorphisms in the TLR-4 genes are linked to an increased rate of exposure to rheumatoid arthritis, and can affect the course of the disease’s development in the Iraqi population.