The Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Higher Studies / University of Baghdad discussed the master’s thesis of student “Mazin Kamel Marjoon” titled: “Pharmacogenomic Association of Methylene Tetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) Gene Expression with Response to Methotrexate in Rheumatoid Patients in a Sample of Iraqi Patients” under the supervision of Professor Dr. Rafid Abdul Wahid Al-Moussawi.
The study aimed to evaluate the expression of the MTHFR gene, in addition to measuring TNF-α and folic acid levels, with the aim of supporting the trend of conducting genetic tests before starting methotrexate treatment.
This study was conducted in light of the increasing clinical importance of pharmacogenomics and its role in improving the effectiveness and safety of treatment.
The study showed that statistical analyses using ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation test revealed that MTHFR gene expression was significantly lower in the biological treatment group compared to the methotrexate-responsive group and the control group (p < 0.05), and that TNF-α levels were significantly higher in the biological treatment group, indicating a persistent inflammatory response in non-responsive patients.
The study concluded that MTHFR gene expression, TNF-α levels, and folic acid may play an important role in predicting the therapeutic response to methotrexate, highlighting the importance of pharmacogenomic testing before starting treatment to improve clinical outcomes and reduce ineffective treatments.
The study recommended that changes in these biomarkers are closely related to the inflammatory state and the variability in treatment outcomes among patients.
