RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of pattern-recognition receptors which play a role in eliciting innate/adaptive immune responses and developing chronic inflammation. So, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of TLR7 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs3853839 and rs179019 on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) susceptibility and to assess their relations with various clinical and laboratory data of the patients. METHODS: This is a case-control study including 50 SLE female patients and 50 healthy controls. TLR7 rs3853839 and rs179019 genotyping was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) TaqMan-based allelic discrimination assay. RESULTS: Regarding rs3853839, there was a statistically significant difference in the distribution of the genotypes between SLE patients and the control group in our study (P = 0.009). A significant association was detected between TLR7 genotypes (rs385389) and lupus nephritis (p = 0.021). Regarding rs179019, there was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of the genotypes between SLE patients and the control group in our study (P = 0.271) CONCLUSION: This study revealed the plausible role of TLR7 rs3853839 SNP in SLE in Egyptian women.