Background Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are single base-pair changes which will lead to the structural changes of mRNA and get involved in the pathogenesis process of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). LIGHT is indicated to be a inflammatory mediator in AS. Meanwhile the SNP rs1077667 G>A, which was located on LIGHT, is associated with the expression of LIGHT.

Objectives This study explored the relationship between AS and the SNP rs1077667 G>A in a Han Chinese population. Meanwhile we explored the relationship between the SNP and the laboratory characteristic of AS patients.

Methods A case-control study with 497 subjects diagnosed AS and 387 healthy controls to compare their genotype and gene frequencies was delivered. SNP is identified by high-resolution melting methods (HRM). Clinical characteristics of patients with AS and controls were registered at the same time.

Results Statistical significance was found in both co-dominant model (GG vs. GA vs. AA) (P=0.000004) and allele [p=4.59E-08, OR (95%CI) = 0.740 (0.663–0.827)] between LIGHT rs1077667 G>A and the risk of AS. However, no significant association was found between the SNP and the laboratory indexes.

Conclusions This is the first study to address the association between the LIGHT rs1077667 G>A polymorphisms and AS, and it suggests a potential pathogenic factor for AS.

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Acknowledgement We are grateful to the participating AS patients and their families. This research was sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81301496, and 81202354). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Disclosure of Interest B. Yang Shareholder of: No, Grant/research support from: No, Consultant for: No, Employee of: No, Paid instructor for: No, Speakers bureau: No, L. Wang: None declared