Lack of association between plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) gene 4G/5G polymorphism and osteoarthritis.

This study was conducted in Turkish osteoarthritis patients to determine the frequency of 4G/5G polymorphism genotypes of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 gene and to examine the role of this polymorphism in osteoarthritis development. Genomic DNA obtained from 200 persons (140 patients with osteoarthritis and 60 healthy controls) was used in the study. DNA was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using 4G allele- and 5G allele-specific primers. Polymerase chain reaction products were assessed with CCD camera by being exposed to 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. No statistically significant difference between the groups with respect to genotype distribution was found (P > 0.05) in the study. The 4G allele frequency was indicated as 44% and 5G allele was as 56% in patients, whereas this was 45-55% in the control group. This study has established that 4G/5G polymorphism genotypes of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 gene do not play a role in the development of osteoarthritis in the Turkish population.