Association between TRAIL gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility and severity of lumbar disc degeneration

Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) gene polymorphisms and the susceptibility and severity of lumbar disc degeneration (LDD) in the Chinese Han population. Methods: A total of 153 patients with LDD and 131 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 3' untranslated region (3'UTR) of TRAIL gene, including 1289 C/A, 1525 G/A, 1588 G/A and 1595 C/T, were genotyped with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis. Results: The genotypes and alleles frequencies of TRAIL at 1525 and 1595 positions in all subjects were the same. There was a significant association between TRAIL 1525/1595 polymorphisms and the susceptibility of LDD. The frequencies of 1525 GG /1595 CC genotype, and 1525 G/1595 C allele were higher in the patients group than that in the control group. In addition, we found patients with the 1525 AA /1595 TT genotype, as well as 1525 A/1595 T allele exhibit significantly low frequency of high grades of disc degeneration. However, there were no significant differences in the genotype or allele distribution of TRAIL 1289 C/A or 1588 G/A between the patients and the control group. Conclusion: TRAIL 1525/1595 polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility and severity of LDD in the Chinese Han population.