Genetic variations of microRNA encoding genes influence various sorts of diseases by modifying the expression or activity of microRNAs. MicroRNA 146a is an epigenetic regulator of immune response through controlling the type I interferon (IFN) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. Genetic variations of microRNA 146a impact the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its clinical presentations. This study aimed to investigate the polymorphisms of microRNA-146a gene (rs2431697 and rs57095329) in patients with SLE and its association with disease activity. Sixty-five patients with SLE and 40 apparently healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Patients were subjected to history taking, clinical examination, and disease activity evaluation by SLEDAI score. The microRNA-146a variants were determined by allele discrimination real-time PCR method in all participants. We found a statistically significant association between rs2431697 T allele and SLE (P-value < 0.05), but there was no significant association between rs57095329 and SLE. The T/T genotype of microRNA-146a rs2431697 was associated with lupus nephritis, higher disease activity, and autoantibodies production. The microRNA-146a rs2431697 T allele could be a potential risk factor that contributes to SLE susceptibility, development of lupus nephritis, and disease activity.

microRNA编码基因的遗传变异通过修饰microRNA的表达或活性来影响各种疾病。MicroRNA 146a通过控制I型干扰素（IFN）和核因子κB（NF-κB）途径，是免疫应答的表观遗传调节剂。microRNA 146a的遗传变异影响对系统性红斑狼疮（SLE）的敏感性及其临床表现。本研究旨在研究SLE患者中microRNA-146a基因的多态性（rs2431697和rs57095329）及其与疾病活动的关系。这项研究纳入了65位SLE患者和40位明显健康的对照。通过SLEDAI评分对患者进行历史记录，临床检查和疾病活动评估。通过所有参与者中的等位基因鉴别实时PCR方法确定了microRNA-146a变体。我们发现rs2431697 T等位基因与SLE之间存在统计学上的显着关联（P值<0.05），但rs57095329与SLE之间没有显着的关联。microRNA-146a rs2431697的T / T基因型与狼疮性肾炎，更高的疾病活动性和自身抗体产生有关。microRNA-146a rs2431697 T等位基因可能是导致SLE易感性，狼疮性肾炎和疾病活动的潜在危险因素。microRNA-146a rs2431697的T / T基因型与狼疮性肾炎，更高的疾病活动性和自身抗体产生有关。microRNA-146a rs2431697 T等位基因可能是导致SLE易感性，狼疮性肾炎和疾病活动的潜在危险因素。microRNA-146a rs2431697的T / T基因型与狼疮性肾炎，更高的疾病活动性和自身抗体产生有关。microRNA-146a rs2431697 T等位基因可能是导致SLE易感性，狼疮性肾炎和疾病活动的潜在危险因素。