Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in Midkine Gene (MDK) in an Omani Population and Their Association with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease affecting synovial membrane in multiple joints. RA has strong associations with environmental and genetic factors. The growth factor midkine (MK) might play an important role in the pathogenesis of RA. Different SNPs were identified in the MDK gene and were associated with different diseases. Interfering with MK gene expression improve RA symptoms. To our knowledge, the presence of SNPs in MDK in the Omani population and the association of the SNPs in MDK with RA (in any population) were never investigated. In this study, we aim to investigate the presence of SNPs in MDK in the Omani population as well as the association of these SNPs with RA. This will be done by comparing the frequency of SNPs in MDK in healthy donors and RA patients, studying the association of the SNPs in MDK with the levels of MK in the blood and exploring the association of the SNPs in MDK with RA associated parameters. To our knowledge this is the first study that investigates the association between SNPs in MDK and RA. The findings may help in the understanding of RA pathogenesis and the development of new anti-RA therapies. This is also the first study that is assessing the presence of SNPs in MDK in the Omani population, which will help further studies that will be investigating the role of MK in different diseases that affect the Omani population.