The identification of new mutation in C1qA gene that disrupts the start codon (ATG to AGG (Met1Arg)) has not been reported previously and it expands the knowledge and importance of the C1q gene in the pathogenesis of lupus especially in the high-risk African-American population.
Recent studies have tested genetic variation at the C1QA, C1QB and C1QC (complement component 1, q subcomponent, A chain, complement component 1, q subcomponent, B chain and complement component 1, q subcomponent, c chain) loci in relation to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) risk.
Polymorphisms of the C1qA gene are associated with low serum C1q levels in patients with cutaneous LE, but C1q polymorphisms have not been studied in patients with systemic lupus.
Statistical analysis also revealed that there were no significant associations observed in the genotype distributions and allele frequencies among the patients with SLE and healthy control subjects with both C1qA-Gly70 (G/A) and C1qC-Pro14 (T/C) SNPs.
The C1qA polymorphism associated with decreased distant metastasis has also been correlated with an increased incidence of subcutaneous systemic lupus and C1q deficiencies, suggesting that an altered immune response may play a role in the observed association.