BackgroundThe development of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) depends inter alia on genetic factors including genes involved in oxidative stress and angiogenesis as NOS2 and VEGF. The aim of our study is to evaluate the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) influence of NOS2 gene (rs2779248, rs2779251 and rs8078340) and VEGF gene (rs1570360 and rs2010963) on SLE development in Algerian patients.MethodsThis is a case-control study of 157 SLE patients (age: 37±2 years, sex ratio: 1: 10, disease duration: 7.6±4.3 years, SLEDAI: 7.3±6.1) and 173 healthy controls (age: 28±9 years, sex ratio: 1: 7). We performed NOS2 and VEGF genes SNPs genotyping TaqMAN technology and we respected the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.ResultsFirst, we analyzed the allele frequency of NOS2 and VEGF genes SNPs and we obtained for:NOS2 gene that rs2779248 T allele is associated to SLE’s development (OR 1.92) as well as rs2779251 T (OR 2.01) and rs8078340 A alleles (OR 5.00) unlike rs2779248 C, rs2779251 G and rs8078340 G alleles that are protective against SLE development (OR 0.52, 0.50 and 0.20).VEGF gene that rs2010963 C allele is associated SLE’s development (OR 1.86) unlike rs2010963 G allele that is protective (OR 0.54).Thereafter, we analyzed the genotype frequency and we got for:NOS2 gene that rs2779248 CT genotype is associated to SLE’s development (OR 2.01) as well as rs2779251 GG (OR 1.62) and rs8078340 AA genotypes (OR 3.41) inversely to rs2779248 CC, rs2779251 TT and rs8078340 GG genotypes that are protective (OR 0.35, 0.24 and 0.20).VEGF gene that rs1570360 GG genotype is associated to SLE’s development (OR 1.73) as well as rs2010963 CC genotype (OR 2.91) unlike rs1570360 AG and rs2010963 GG genotypes that are protective (OR 0.51 and 0.58).Furthermore, we observed that the VEGF rs1570360 G allele was assiociated to lupus nephritis development (OR 3.51) as well as GG genotype (OR 3.82). Regarding the haplotype analysis, it showed for the NOS2 gene that AGG haplotype is associated to SLE’s development (OR 2.12) and that CGG is protective (OR 0.50). Finally, as a whole, our results are consistent with the literature data.ConclusionsAt the end of our study, we have demonstrated the role the NOS2 and VEGF genes SNPs in the genetic susceptibility to develop SLE in Algerian patients.Funding Source(s):Pasteur Institute of Algeria