Role of MUC1 rs4072037 polymorphism and serum KL-6 levels in patients with antisynthetase syndrome

Study partially supported by a grant from Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR 474-2017) and from Euronanomed III / Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) (AC17/00027) awarded to SC. SR-M is supported by funds of the RETICS Program (RD16/0012/0009) from the ISCIII, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund. BA-M is recipient of a ‘López Albo’ Post-Residency Programme funded by Servicio Cántabro de Salud. VP-C is supported by a pre-doctoral grant from IDIVAL (PREVAL 18/01). LL-G is supported by funds from IDIVAL (INNVAL 20/06). RP-F is supported by funds of START project (FOREUM18/34). DP-P is a recipient of a Río Hortega programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF, ‘Investing in your future’) (CM20/00006). OG is staff personnel of Xunta de Galicia (Servizo Galego de Saude (SERGAS)) through a research-staff stabilization contract (ISCIII/SERGAS) and his work is funded by ISCIII and the European Union FEDER fund (RD16/0012/0014 (RIER) and PI17/00409). He is beneficiary of project funds from the Research Executive Agency (REA) of the European Union in the framework of MSCA-RISE Action of the H2020 Programme, Project 734899—Olive-Net. RL-M is a recipient of a Miguel Servet type I programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the ESF (CP16/00033).
Mucin 1/Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) is proposed as a serum biomarker of several interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), including connective tissue disorders associated with ILD. However, it has not been studied in a large cohort of Caucasian antisynthetase syndrome (ASSD) patients. Consequently, we assessed the role of MUC1 rs4072037 and serum KL-6 levels as a potential biomarker of ASSD susceptibility and for the differential diagnosis between patients with ILD associated with ASSD (ASSD-ILD +) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). 168 ASSD patients (149 ASSD-ILD +), 174 IPF patients and 523 healthy controls were genotyped for MUC1 rs4072037 T > C. Serum KL-6 levels were determined in a subgroup of individuals. A significant increase of MUC1 rs4072037 CC genotype and C allele frequencies was observed in ASSD patients compared to healthy controls. Likewise, MUC1 rs4072037 TC and CC genotypes and C allele frequencies were significantly different between ASSD-ILD+ and IPF patients. Additionally, serum KL-6 levels were significantly higher in ASSD patients compared to healthy controls. Nevertheless, no differences in serum KL-6 levels were found between ASSD-ILD+ and IPF patients. Our results suggest that the presence of MUC1 rs4072037 C allele increases the risk of ASSD and it could be a useful genetic biomarker for the differential diagnosis between ASSD-ILD+ and IPF patients.
European Union FEDER fund PI17/00409
Servicio Cántabro de Salud
Servizo Galego de Saude
Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery SEPAR 474-2017
European Commission EC 734899, CP16/00033
Research Executive Agency
Instituto de Salud Carlos III AC17/00027, CM20/00006, RD16/0012/0009, RD16/0012/0014
European Social Fund
European Regional Development Fund
Foundation for Research in Rheumatology
Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla INNVAL 20/06, PREVAL 18/01
Servicio Gallego de Salud
START, Global Change System for Analysis, Research, and Training FOREUM18/34