Objectives. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism is a marker of susceptibilty to or severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Chinese patients. Methods. A total of 145 RA patients and 134 healthy control subjects were enrolled in this study. We identified the C/T polymorphism of the urokinase gene, which is mapped on the 3'-un-translated region (3'-UTR) on chromosome 10 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results. There were significant differences in the distribution of the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism frequency between RA patients and subjects in the control group. However, we did not detect any association between the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism and rhetunatoid factor (RF), extraarticular involvement or bone erosion in RA patients. Conclusion. The urokinase gene 3'-UTR "T" allele was associated with RA in Chinese patients in Taiwan.
