Functional monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 promoter -2518 polymorphism and systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis.

The monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) promoter -2518 A/G polymorphism has been reported inconsistently to be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN). The aim of this study was to explore whether the MCP-1 polymorphism confers susceptibility to SLE or LN. We surveyed studies on the MCP-1 polymorphism and SLE or LN identified by MEDLINE or manual searches. Meta-analysis was conducted on the AA genotype (recessive effect), AA, and AG genotypes (dominant effect), AA versus GG (genotype contrast), and on the A allele of MCP-1 in SLE and LN in each ethnic population studied and on all subjects. Ten studies, which included 1,739 SLE patients and 1,680 controls, were included in our meta-analysis. These consisted of two European, six Asian, one Latin American, and one mixed study. We did not find any association between the MCP-1 -2518 A/G polymorphism and SLE in all subjects or in ethnic groups. Meta-analysis also failed to reveal an association between the MCP-1 -2518 A/G polymorphisms and LN. This meta-analysis on 3419 subjects indicates that no association exists between the MCP-1 -2518 A/G polymorphism and SLE or LN.