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Genes and environment
07.08 Contribution of mthfr gene polymorphisms in primary sjögren’s syndrome related lymphomagenesis
  1. Sofia Fragkioudaki1,
  2. Adrianos Nezos1,
  3. Aggeliki A Saetta2,
  4. Nikolaos Drakoulis3,
  5. Vasilis L Souliotis4,
  6. Petros P Sfikakis5,6,
  7. Athanasios G. Tzioufas6,7,
  8. Michael Voulgarelis6,7,
  9. Michael Koutsilieris1,
  10. Mary K Crow8,
  11. Haralampos M Moutsopoulos6,7,
  12. Clio P Mavragani1,6,7
  1. 1Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  2. 2Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  3. 3Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  4. 4Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
  5. 5First Department of Propaedeutic Internal Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
  6. 6Joint Academic Rheumatology Program, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Athens, Greece
  7. 7Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
  8. 8Mary Kirkland Centre for Lupus Research, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, USA

Abstract

Background Among systemic autoimmune disorders, primary Sjogren’s syndrome (pSS) has the highest risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) development. Two common polymorphisms, the C677T and A1298C, of the methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, an enzyme essential in DNA synthesis, repair and methylation, have been reported to influence susceptibility to both autoimmune diseases and NHL. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible contribution of MTHFR variants in pSS-related lymphomagenesis.

Materials and methods 262 pSS patients without NHL (pSS), 94 pSS patients with NHL [pSS-lymphoma, of which 75 had mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) and 19 non-MALT] as well as 600 healthy controls (HC) of similar age and sex distribution were genotyped by PCR-based assays for the detection of the MTHFR gene polymorphisms (C677T and A1298C). To further evaluate the functional consequences of MTHFR variants, global DNA methylation levels were assessed by bisulphite pyrosequencing of the LINE-1 retroelement promoter in genomic DNA derived from 55 salivary gland tissues from pSS patients. Additionally, DNA double strand breaks -a marker of intrinsic DNA damage as a result of defective DNA repair- were determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from 13 pSS patients, using comet assay.

Results The frequency of MTHFR polymorphisms did not differ among pSS, pSS-lymphoma patients and HC. However, further data analysis according to the lymphoma subtype revealed increased frequency of C677T TT genotype and T allele in the pSS non-MALT group compared to pSS patients [OR(95% CI): 2.13 (1.06–4.30), p=0.03] and HC [OR(95% CI): 1.93 (1.01–3.68), p=0.04], respectively. On the other hand, the prevalence of the A1298C C allele was reduced among pSS non-MALT individuals compared to both pSS patients [OR(95% CI): 0.29 (0.10–0.83), p=0.01] and HC [OR(95% CI): 0.25 (0.09–0.70), p=0.004]. Of interest, MTHFR C677T TT genotype was associated with reduced global DNA methylation levels (TT vs CC: 71.57±5.43 vs 75.56±4.13, p=0.045), while MTHFR A1298C AA genotype carriers displayed elevated comet assay units levels, implying intrinsic DNA damage (AA vs AC: 14.41±4.38 vs 7.89±5.54, p=0.04).

Conclusions The current report supports the contribution of MTHFR genetic variants in non-MALT NHL development in the setting of pSS, possibly through defective DNA methylation and repair mechanisms.

https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2016-211054.8

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