# Assessing ST18 gene polymorphisms (rs17315309, rs2304365) in Iraqi patients with Pemphigus vulgaris

## TL;DR

This study investigates the link between two ST18 gene SNPs and Pemphigus vulgaris in Iraqi patients, finding one SNP significantly associated with the disease.

## Contribution

The study identifies a novel genetic association between rs17315309 A/G in the ST18 gene and Pemphigus vulgaris in the Iraqi population.

## Key findings

- The rs17315309 A/G SNP in the ST18 gene is significantly associated with Pemphigus vulgaris in Iraqi patients.
- The mutant G-allele of rs17315309 is more prevalent in PV patients compared to healthy controls.
- No significant association was found between rs2304365 C/G and Pemphigus vulgaris in the same population.

## Abstract

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is a potentially fatal autoimmune disease characterized by blistering of the skin, mucous membranes, and oral cavity. Genetics are implicated in its etiology, with the ST18 gene identified as a potential risk factor for pemphigus in certain populations, suggesting its role as a novel molecular target for therapeutic intervention. This study aimed to detect single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs17315309 A/G and rs2304365 C/G in the ST18 gene among Iraqi/Arabic patients with PV. A total of 90 Iraqi subjects participated in this study, including 45 patients diagnosed with PV and 45 healthy controls. SNP analysis was performed using High-Resolution Melt Analysis (HRMA) with Eva Green I Dye. For SNP rs17315309 A/G, the distribution of heterozygous genotypes showed highly significant differences between the patient and healthy groups (P = 0.005), with the mutant G-allele being significantly more prevalent in patients than in the healthy group (P = 0.001). In contrast, for SNP rs2304365 C/G, the distribution of heterozygous and mutant genotypes did not differ significantly between patients and healthy individuals (P = 0.8 and P = 0.3, respectively), with the mutant G-allele also showing no significant difference (P = 0.4). Our data indicate a significant association between PV and the rs17315309 A/G SNP in the ST18 gene among the Iraqi population of Arabic origin. However, no association was found between patients with PV and the rs2304365 C/G SNP in the same gene.