Investigate the Genetic Variations of the Vitamin D Receptor SNP (C>A rs7975232) in the Individuals Diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a persistent autoimmune condition that impacts the joints, featuring a gradual and symmetrical inflammation in the affected joints. This inflammation leads to the destruction of cartilage, erosion of bone, and eventual disability. The objective of this study is to assess the VDR SNP (rs7975232) and its potential correlation with fatty acid synthase (FAS) and IL-17A in Iraqi patients diagnosed with RA. In this study, demographic characteristics were analyzed for 90 subjects, comprising 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 45 control subjects. The results revealed statistically significant increases in total cholesterol and LDL in the study group (p-values < 0.0001 and < 0.001, respectively). Conversely, HDL exhibited a significant decrease (p-value < 0.001), while TG and VLDL showed non-significant differences (p-values 0.1 and 0.09, respectively). The study further concludes a notable disparity in the levels of the fatty acid synthase (FAS) enzyme, with the patient group (0.93 ± 0.53) demonstrating a higher level compared to the control group (0.74 ± 0.45) (p-value: 0.001). Additionally, the study identified a significant difference in the levels of IL-17A (pg/ml) between patients (166 ± 13) and the control group (87 ± 5) (p-value: 0.001), with the patient group exhibiting higher IL-17A levels. In conclusion, assessing both FAS and IL-17A may serve as a valuable method for the characterization and monitoring of subjects with RA.