Association between the rs2004640 functional polymorphism of interferon regulatory factor 5 and systemic lupus erythematosus: a meta-analysis

The aim of this study is to determine whether the functional interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) polymorphism, rs2004640, confers susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in multiple ethic populations. A meta-analysis was conducted on the T allele of the IRF5 rs2004640 polymorphism and 12 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Meta-analysis revealed an association between SLE and the IRF5 rs2004640 T allele in all subjects without inter-study heterogeneity (OR 1.429, 95% CI 1.359–1.503, P < 0.001). The IRF5 rs2004640 T allele was significantly associated with SLE in European and Asians. The Asian population had a much lower prevalence of the T allele (34.4%) than any other population studied. and Europeans had the highest frequency of the IRF5 rs2004640 T allele (51.8%). In conclusion, this meta-analysis confirms that the IRF5 rs2004640 polymorphism is associated with SLE susceptibility in different ethnic groups, and that its prevalence is ethnicity dependent.