Journal of Immunology Research
Volume 2015 (2015), Article ID 101879, 8 pages
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/101879

Research Article

Polymorphisms Associated with Age at Onset in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Plaque Psoriasis

Rocío Prieto-Pérez,¹ Guillermo Solano-López,² Teresa Cabaleiro,1,3 Manuel Román,¹ Dolores Ochoa,¹ María Talegón,¹ Ofelia Baniandrés,⁴ José Luis López-Estebaranz,⁵ Pablo de la Cueva,⁶ Esteban Daudén,² and Francisco Abad-Santos1,3

¹Clinical Pharmacology Service, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto Teófilo Hernando, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IP), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), 28006 Madrid, Spain
²Dermatology Service, Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Princesa (IP), 28006 Madrid, Spain
³Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
⁴Dermatology Service, Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón, 28007 Madrid, Spain
⁵Dermatology Service, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, 28922 Madrid, Spain
⁶Dermatology Service, Hospital Universitario Infanta Leonor, 28031 Madrid, Spain

Received 18 June 2015; Accepted 15 September 2015

Academic Editor: Fulvia Ceccarelli

Copyright © 2015 Rocío Prieto-Pérez et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease in which genetics play a major role. Although many genome-wide association studies have been performed in psoriasis, knowledge of the age at onset remains limited. Therefore, we analyzed 173 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in genes associated with psoriasis and other autoimmune diseases in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis type I (early-onset, <40 years) or type II (late-onset, ≥40 years) and healthy controls. Moreover, we performed a comparison between patients with type I psoriasis and patients with type II psoriasis. Our comparison of a stratified population with type I psoriasis and healthy controls is the first to reveal a relationship between the CLMN, FBXL19, CCL4L, C17orf51, TYK2, IL13, SLC22A4, CDKAL1, and HLA-B/MICA genes. When we compared type I psoriasis with type II psoriasis , we found a significant association between age at onset and the genes PSORS6, TNF-α, FCGR2A, TNFR1, CD226, HLA-C, TNFAIP3, and CCHCR1. Moreover, we replicated the association between rs12191877 (HLA-C) and type I psoriasis and between type I and type II psoriasis. Our findings highlight the role of genetics in age of onset of psoriasis.

1. Introduction

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder with a major genetic component. The prevalence of chronic plaque psoriasis is around 2% in the general population [1]. The many genetic studies performed in recent years showed that genes such as interleukin 23 receptor (IL23R) and IL12B and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) are closely associated with psoriasis and related diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn’s disease [2]. Human leukocyte antigen C is the allele most closely associated with this disease [3].

The age at onset of psoriasis follows a bimodal distribution [4]: type I psoriasis appears before the age of 40 years (early-onset), with a peak at 16–22 years; type II psoriasis appears after the age of 40 years (late-onset), with a peak at 57–60 years [5]. Type I psoriasis has been associated with several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes associated with the immune response (Table 1). For example, is more strongly associated with type I psoriasis than with type II psoriasis [5]. Although several association studies have already been performed in psoriasis in both populations (type I or type II psoriasis patients), knowledge of age at onset remains limited and controversial (Table 1) [6]. Therefore, we performed a candidate gene study, where we evaluated genetic susceptibility to type I or type II psoriasis in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis. This approach may help us to identify SNPs previously associated with psoriasis or other autoimmune diseases [2] that are specific to type I or type II psoriasis. Furthermore, our genetic study could improve our understanding of psoriasis and of its etiology and pathogenesis.

Table 1: SNPs associated with type I (early-onset) and type II (late-onset) psoriasis: an update.

SNP
Gene
Function†
Association with
References

Ps type I
Ps type II
Ps type I versus type II

—
0602

X
X

[6–10]

—
12:02

X

[8]

rs1265181
HLA-C
Encodes a class I molecule which plays a central role in the immune system by presenting peptides derived from endoplasmic reticulum lumen
X

X
[11]

rs12191877

[7, 11]

rs4406273
X

X
[11]

rs2395029
X

[11]

rs10484554
X
X
X
[7, 10, 12]

rs13191099

X

[4]

rs10876882
HLA-A

X

[4]

rs33980500
TRAF3IP2
Encodes a protein involved in regulating responses to cytokines by members of the Rel/NF-kappa-B transcription factor family
X

[11]

rs71562288

X

[4]

rs2233278
TNIP1
Encodes A20-binding protein which plays a role in autoimmunity and tissue homeostasis through the regulation of nuclear factor kappa-B activation

X
[11]

rs17728338
TNIP1

X
[11]

rs1295685
IL13
Encodes a cytokine involved in several stages of B cell maturation and differentiation
X

[11]

rs17716942
IFIH1
Encodes an Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp box protein (putative RNA helicases)
X

[7]

rs1990760

X

[4]

rs27524
ERAP1
Encodes an aminopeptidase involved in trimming HLA class I-binding precursors
X

[6]#

rs11209026
IL23R
Encodes a subunit of the receptor for IL23A/IL23
X

[6]#

rs72676067

X

[4]

rs10876882
IL23A
Encodes a subunit of IL23 involved in immune responses

X

[4]

—
LCE3B/LCE3C-del
Encodes precursors of the cornified envelope of the stratum corneum
X

[6, 13]#

rs2546890
IL12B
Encodes a subunit of IL12 that acts on T and natural killer cells
X
X

[4, 14]

rs60813083
RNF114
Encodes a protein that may play a role in spermatogenesis

X

[4]

rs887998
IL1R1
Encodes a receptor for IL1 involved in inflammatory responses

X

[4]

rs16944
IL1B
Encodes a cytokine produced by activated macrophages and is involved in immune responses, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis

X

[4, 15]

rs2853550

X

[4]

rs26653
ERAP1
Encodes an aminopeptidase involved in trimming HLA class I-binding precursors so that they can be presented on the MHC class I molecule
X

[10]

rs30187
X

[10]

rs2227473
IL22
Encodes an interleukin 22 that contributes to the inflammatory response
X

[16]

rs2227483
X

[16]

INDEL rs35774195/rs10784699
X

[16]

rs6822844
IL2/IL21
Encode cytokines that are important in the innate and adaptive immune responses by inducing differentiation, proliferation, and activity of multiple target cells including macrophages, natural killer cells, B cells, and cytotoxic T cells
X

[17]

rs2069778
X

[17]

rs6311
HTR2A
Encodes a receptor for neurotransmitter serotonin

X

[18]

rs12459358
PSORS6
Encodes genetic locus associated with susceptibility to psoriasis
X

[19]

rs1800629
TNF-α
Encodes a cytokine secreted by macrophages and involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis, as well as in lipid metabolism and coagulation
X

[20, 21]

rs361525
X

[15, 20–24]

rs3733197
BANK1
Encodes a protein involved in B cell receptor-induced calcium mobilization from intracellular stores
X

[25]

rs755622
MIF
Encodes a lymphokine involved in cell-mediated immunity, immunoregulation, and inflammation

X
X
[26]

rs6693899
IL10
Encodes a cytokine produced by monocytes and lymphocytes and involved in immunoregulation and inflammation

X
X
[27]

rs1800896

X

[28]

rs4341
ACE
Encodes an enzyme involved in catalyzing the conversion of angiotensin I into a physiologically active peptide angiotensin II
X

[29]

SNPs at positions -1540, -1512, -1451, -460, and -152
VEGFA
Encodes a protein involved in angiogenesis, vasculogenesis, endothelial cell growth, promotion of cell migration, and inhibition of apoptosis

X

[30]

SNPs at positions -386 and -404
CCHCR1
Encodes a protein that may be a regulator of keratinocyte proliferation or differentiation
X

[31]

—
WW allele
X

[9]

SNP: single-nucleotide polymorphism; Ps: psoriasis; †Information available at NCBI (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene) or GeneCards (http://www.genecards.org/); #Study performed in pediatric-onset psoriasis (patients <18 years); Association found in our study.

2. Material and Methods

2.1. Experimental Design

We recruited 198 Caucasian patients with moderate-to-severe plaque type psoriasis (psoriasis area and severity index > 10) who attended the department of dermatology in four university hospitals in Madrid between 16/10/2007 and 17/12/2012. Five samples did not fulfill the quality criteria of the Human Genotyping Unit-CeGen (CEGEN, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, Madrid, Spain), and 2 samples had insufficient volume. We also included 197 healthy volunteers (controls) recruited between 10/01/2011 and 14/12/2012 from the Clinical Pharmacology Service (Hospital Universitario de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain). All the volunteers were Caucasian and had no personal or family history of psoriasis (at least 2 generations).

The protocol fulfilled Spanish law on biomedical research and was approved by the Ethics Committee for Clinical Investigation of Hospital Universitario de la Princesa. All controls and patients gave their written informed consent to donate a sample for investigation. The samples are kept in the Clinical Pharmacology Service.

2.2. Selection of the Polymorphisms

We preselected 320 SNPs based on an extensive review of 449 articles describing the association between polymorphisms and psoriasis and response to biological drugs and psoriasis and related inflammatory diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn’s disease) [2]. We finally selected 192 SNPs based on minor allele frequency (≥0.05) and on the results of studies performed in Caucasians and psoriatic patients. Information on the 173 SNPs analyzed can be found in supplementary Table S1, which is published in [3].

2.3. Sample Processing

A 3-mL peripheral blood sample was extracted from each subject in EDTA tubes. DNA was obtained from samples using an automatic DNA extractor (MagNa Pure System, Roche Applied Science, USA) and its concentration was quantified in Nanodrop ND-1000 Spectrophotometer (Wilmington, USA). The extracted DNA was stored at −80°C in the Clinical Pharmacology Service until use.

2.4. Genotyping

A total of 196 samples from patients (2 samples of 198 cases had insufficient volume) and 197 samples from controls were sent to the Human Genotyping Unit-CeGen to genotype 192 SNPs. The analysis was performed using the Illumina Veracode genotyping platform. If fluorescence was low or the genotype clusters were undifferentiated, the SNPs were removed. In addition, if the call rate was less than 95% of the average of the 192 SNPs analyzed, the samples were removed. Since CEGEN quality criteria were not met in 19 SNPs and 5 patients, we finally analyzed 173 SNPs in 191 patients and 197 controls.

2.5. Statistical Analysis

The statistical analysis was performed to compare the following stratified populations: patients with type I psoriasis () or type II psoriasis () versus controls () and patients with type I psoriasis versus cases with type II psoriasis. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was tested for all the SNPs analyzed using the SNPStats program [32]. Allele and genotype frequencies were also calculated using the SNPStats program. SNPs that were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls were removed from the subsequent analysis [33].

The univariate analysis was performed using R 3.0.2. (SNPassoc) [34]. We constructed various logistic regression models depending on the main types of inheritance (codominant, dominant, recessive, and additive). In the additive model, the presence of 2 mutant alleles confers double the risk of 1 mutant allele [33]. The results were adjusted for rs12191877 (SNP that is strongly associated with the allele and is highly prevalent in our population) [3, 35]. The optimal model was selected using the lower Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Subsequently, SNPs with in the univariate analysis (adjusted for rs12191877) were included in a multivariate logistic regression model to adjust for relevant confounding factors (SPSS 15.0). The results of the univariate analysis were adjusted for rs12191877, except when we compared patients with type I psoriasis and patients with type II psoriasis (the influence of rs12191877 was not very relevant). We expressed the results as the odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval, and value.

3. Results

3.1. Study Population

The study population included 155 patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque type I psoriasis (92 men and 63 women), 36 patients with type II psoriasis (19 men and 17 women), and 197 controls (98 men and 99 women). The mean age was years in patients with type I psoriasis ( in men and in women), years in patients with type II psoriasis ( in men and in women), and years in the controls ( in men and in women). The mean age at onset of psoriasis was in patients with type I psoriasis and in patients with type II psoriasis. Analysis of the effect of sex on our results revealed no significant association.

3.2. Genotyping Results

A total of 192 SNPs were analyzed (see supplementary Table S1 published in [3]). However, only 173 SNPs fulfilled the quality criteria. One SNP was monomorphic (rs165161 in the JUNB gene) and was excluded from the statistical analysis. The genotyping success rate was 89.82%, and the reproducibility rate was 100%.

All the minor allele frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium except 9 SNPs in the controls and 12 SNPs in the patients (see supplementary Table S1 published in [3]). The 9 SNPs which were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in controls were removed from the statistical analysis [33].

3.3. Association with Type I or Type II Psoriasis

Our findings showed an association between type I psoriasis and 10 SNPs ( versus controls): rs1634517 (CCL4L), rs1975974 (C17orf51), rs12720356 (TYK2), rs1800925 (IL13), and rs6908425 (CDKAL1) decreased the risk of psoriasis 2.94-fold, 2.08-fold, 10-fold, 100-fold, and 2.44-fold, respectively; and rs2282276 (CLMN), rs10782001 (FBXL19), rs3792876 (SLC22A4), rs12191877 (HLA-C), and rs13437088 (HLA-B/MICA) increased the risk of psoriasis 3.90-fold, 2.10-fold, 3.75-fold, 30.54-fold, and 2.52-fold, respectively (Table 2). However, comparison of 36 patients with type II psoriasis and 197 controls revealed no significant association (results not shown).

Table 2: Results of univariate linear regression analysis (unadjusted and adjusted for rs12191877 in HLA-C) and multivariate linear regression analysis (155 patients with type I psoriasis versus 197 controls). In the multivariate analysis, we included the SNPs with in the univariate analysis adjusted for HLA-C. Only polymorphisms that were significant in the multivariate analysis are shown.

SNP
Gene
Model
Risk genotype
Univariate unadjusted. Type I
patients versus controls
Univariate adjusted for
HLA-C
Multivariate

OR (95% CI)
value
OR (95% CI)
value
OR (95% CI)
value

rs2282276
CLMN
A
CC/CT
1.74 (0.96–3.15)
0.066
1.95 (1.04–3.65)
0.037
3.90 (1.13–13.38)
0.031

rs10782001
FBXL19
A
GG/AG
1.58 (1.13–2.21)
0.007
1.59 (1.09–2.32)
0.016
2.10 (1.05–4.17)
0.035

rs1634517
CCL4L
D
AA/AC
0.89 (0.58–1.36)
0.590
0.64 (0.39–1.05)
0.073
0.34 (0.14–0.84)
0.019

rs1975974
C17orf51
A
GG/AG
0.80 (0.57–1.14)
0.220
0.66 (0.44–0.99)
0.040
0.48 (0.23–0.99)
0.048

rs12720356
TYK2
A
GG/GT
0.42 (0.21–0.81)
0.019
0.27 (0.13–0.58)
0.0003
0.10 (0.03–0.39)
0.001

rs1800925
IL13
R
TT
0.18 (0.02–1.45)
0.051
0.17 (0.02–1.49)
0.061
0.01 (0.00–0.73)
0.034

rs3792876
SLC22A4
A
TT/CT
1.57 (0.89–2.76)
0.110
1.87 (0.98–3.55)
0.057
3.75 (1.19–11.83)
0.024

rs6908425
CDKAL1
A
TT/CT
0.67 (0.47–0.97)
0.029
0.58 (0.39–0.89)
0.01
0.41 (0.20–0.85)
0.017

rs12191877
HLA-C
A
TT/CT
5.92 (3.83–9.15)

—
—
30.54 (10.62–87.85)
0.000

rs13437088
HLA-B/MICA
D
TT/CT
2.17 (1.42–3.34)

1.93 (1.19–3.13)
0.007
2.52 (1.01–6.31)
0.048

CLMN: calponin-like transmembrane gene; FBXL19: F-box and leucine-rich repeat protein 19; CCL4L: chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 4-like; C17orf51: chromosome 17 open reading frame 51; TYK2: nonreceptor tyrosine-protein kinase; IL13: interleukin 13; SLC22A4: solute carrier family 22 member 4; CDKAL1: cyclin-dependent kinase 5 regulatory subunit associated protein 1-like 1; HLA: major histocompatibility complex; MICA: major histocompatibility complex class I polypeptide-related sequence A; SNPs: single-nucleotide polymorphisms; OR: odds ratio of presenting type 1 psoriasis; CI: confidence interval; A: additive; R: recessive; D: dominant; —: no data.

Four SNPs were associated with significant decreases in the risk of type I psoriasis () compared with type II psoriasis (), namely, rs191190 (TNFR1; 126.08-fold), rs361525 (TNF-α; 190.76-fold), and rs10499194 and rs6920220 (TNFAIP3; 155.02-fold and 19.14-fold, resp.). We also found 5 SNPs that were associated with a significant increase in the risk of type I psoriasis, namely, rs1801274 (FCGR2A; 5.26-fold), rs763361 (CD226; 33.3-fold), rs12459358 (PSORS6; 11.11-fold), rs12191877 (HLA-C; 12.5-fold), and rs1576 (CCHCR1; 166.66-fold) (Table 3).

Table 3: Results of univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses (155 patients with psoriasis type I versus 36 cases with psoriasis type II). SNPs with in the univariate analysis were included in the multivariate analysis. Only polymorphisms that were significant in the multivariate analysis are shown.

SNP
Gene
Model
Risk genotype
Univariate Ps patients type I versus type II
Multivariate

OR (95% CI)
value
OR (95% CI)
value

rs1801274
FCGR2A
A
CC/CT
1.96 (1.12–3.45)
0.016
5.26 (1.11–25)
0.037

rs191190
TNFR1
D
CC/CT
0.43 (0.17–1.11)
0.065
0.01 (1.44E − 04–0.44)
0.018

rs763361
CD226
D
TT/CT
2.08 (0.99–4.35)
0.056
33.33 (1.11–1000)
0.043

rs12459358
PSORS6
A
TT/CT
2.44 (1.32–4.55)
0.002
11.11 (1.32–100)
0.026

rs10499194
TNFAIP3
D
TT/CT
0.38 (0.17–0.90)
0.02
0.01 (6.77E − 05–0.61)
0.030

rs12191877
HLA-C
A
TT/CT
2.33 (1.23–4.35)
0.006
12.50 (1.06–100)
0.045

rs6920220
TNFAIP3
A
AA/AG
0.55 (0.30–1.03)
0.068
0.05 (0.003–0.90)
0.042

rs361525
TNF-α
C
AG
2.17 (0.62–7.69)
0.087
0.01 (5.48E − 05–0.50)
0.024

rs1576
CCHCR1
D
GG/GC
2.56 (1.22–5.26)
0.012
166.67 (2.32–1000)
0.019

FCGR2A: Fc fragment of IgG low affinity IIa receptor; TNFR1: tumor necrosis factor receptor 1; CD226: CD226 antigen; PSORS6: psoriasis susceptibility 6; TNFAIP3: tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3; HLA-C: major histocompatibility complex; TNFAIP3: tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced protein 3; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor alpha; CCHCR1: coiled-coil alpha-helical rod protein 1; SNPs: single-nucleotide polymorphisms; OR: odds ratio of presenting type I psoriasis; CI: confidence interval; A: additive; D: dominant; C: codominant.

4. Discussion

About 75% of patients with chronic plaque psoriasis have type I psoriasis before age 40 [4], whereas a lower number of patients develop psoriasis at around 50–60 years [11]. Our results are consistent with these findings, since 79.06% of our patients developed psoriasis before the age of 40.

When we compared patients with type I psoriasis and controls, we found 10 significant SNPs in CLMN, FBXL19, CCL4L, C17orf51, TYK2, IL13, SLC22A4, CDKAL1, HLA-C, and HLA-B/MICA.

The allele is a risk factor for psoriasis [35] and has been associated with both type I [6–9] and type II psoriasis [10]. In one study, 85.3% of patients with type I psoriasis had this allele [5], whereas only 14.7% of patients with type II psoriasis were carriers [5]. Other authors found an association between rs10484554 (HLA-C) and type I psoriasis compared with type II psoriasis ( in type I) [12]. rs10484554 has also been associated with type II psoriasis [10]. In a recent GWAS, the HLA-C gene was associated with type I psoriasis ( for rs1265181, for rs12191877, for rs4406273, and for rs2395029), but not with type II psoriasis after application of the Bonferroni correction [11]. In addition, our results showed significant differences in rs12191877 (HLA-C) in patients with type I psoriasis (). However, we did not find this association in patients with type II psoriasis, probably owing to the small sample size in this group ().

Munir et al. found an association between rs1295685 in the IL13 gene and type I psoriasis () [11]. Our results showed an association between another SNP in IL13 (rs1800925) and type I psoriasis (). In addition, Munir et al. did not obtain significant results when they compared controls with type II psoriasis or type I psoriasis with type II psoriasis [11]. Both SNPs in IL13 have been associated with predisposition to psoriasis [36, 37].

Our comparison of patients with type I psoriasis and controls is the first to obtain significant results for a series of SNPs in type I psoriasis, although the SNPs have already been associated with the risk of psoriasis. rs10782001 in FBXL19 [38], rs1975974 in C17orf51 [38], rs12720356 in TYK2 [3, 39], rs3792876 in SLC22A4 [3], rs6908425 in CDKAL1 [40], and rs13437088 in HLA-B/MICA [35] have previously been associated with psoriasis, but not with type I psoriasis.

Furthermore, SNPs in CLMN (rs2282276) and CCL4L (rs1634517) have not been associated with psoriasis or age at onset.

We found no significant differences between patients with type II psoriasis and controls owing to the small sample size ().

Comparison between patients with type I psoriasis and patients with type II psoriasis revealed significant associations for the following genes: FCGR2A, TNFR1, CD226, PSORS6, TNFAIP3, HLA-C, TNF-α, and CCHCR1.

Polymorphisms in CCHCR1 (−386 and −404, allele) have been associated with type I psoriasis [9, 31]. We found significant differences between rs1576 in CCHCR1 and age at onset. In a study comparing controls (54.8%) and patients with psoriasis type II (66.0%), Allen et al. showed a significant increase in the number of patients carrying rs1576 [41]. This SNP has been associated with psoriasis elsewhere [42].

Douroudis et al. analyzed rs763361 in CD226 in patients with early-onset psoriasis and patients with late-onset psoriasis, although they found no associations [43]. We performed the same analyses and found significant differences between the groups. In addition, rs763361 in CD226 has been associated with severity of psoriasis [43].

rs12459358 in PSORS6 has been associated with type I psoriasis (G risk allele, and ) [19]. In contrast, our data showed an association between the T allele and type I psoriasis (; ).

rs361525 (−238) in the TNFα gene has been associated with susceptibility to psoriasis [44], and the A allele was more frequent in male patients with type I psoriasis () [15, 22]. We found significant results in rs361525 (TNF-α) when we compared patients with type I psoriasis and patients with type II psoriasis, although we found no gender differences. Other authors confirmed our association with type I psoriasis in Caucasian [20, 23] and Mongolian patients [24]. A meta-analysis showed an association between rs361525 and type I psoriasis [21]. Baran et al. found no significant differences between rs1800629 in the −308 promoter (TNFα) and type I or type II psoriasis [45].

Likewise, rs12191877 in HLA-C has been associated with increased risk of psoriasis [35]. Munir et al. [11] compared patients with type I psoriasis and patients with type II psoriasis and obtained significant results for rs1265181, rs4406273, and rs12191877 in HLA-C. We replicated these results in rs12191877 (T allele risk; ).

rs191190 in TNFR1 [46] and rs10499194 in TNFAIP3 [3] have been associated with psoriasis, but not with age of onset. Moreover, rs1801274 in FCGR2A and rs6920220 in TNFAIP3 have not been studied in patients with psoriasis according to age of onset. Given the small sample size in the group with type II psoriasis in our study, our results should be interpreted with caution.

Our results highlight the role of the immune system in psoriasis and enhance our understanding of pathogenic mechanisms. Such knowledge can help to optimize treatment.

Our study is subject to a series of limitations. First, mean age varied between the cases and the controls. Second, the sample size was limited by the number of study patients treated in the dermatology department, thus making it difficult to detect SNPs with a low probability of causing psoriasis. Third, since the SNPs were selected based on a literature review, several major SNPs may not yet have been investigated.

In conclusion, our study confirmed an association between rs12191877 (HLA-C) and type I psoriasis and between type I and type II psoriasis patients. Ours is the first study to show an association between CLMN, FBXL19, CCL4L, C17orf51, TYK2, IL13, SLC22A4, CDKAL1, and HLA-B/MICA and type I psoriasis. Moreover, CLMN and CCL4L have not been previously described in psoriasis. In addition, PSORS6 and TNFα have been described as more prevalent genes in type I psoriasis and we showed a significant association when we compared type I psoriasis and type II psoriasis. Ours is the first study to identify an association between FCGR2A, TNFR1, CD226, TNFAIP3, and CCHCR1 and age at onset of psoriasis. Our results suggest that genetics could play a role in age at onset. However, further studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Conflict of Interests

E. Daudén has potential conflict of interests (advisory board member, consultant, grants, research support, participation in clinical trials, honoraria for speaking, and research support) with the following pharmaceutical companies: AbbVie (Abbott), Amgen, Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, MSD, and Celgene. F. Abad-Santos has been a consultant or investigator in clinical trials sponsored by the following pharmaceutical companies: Abbott, Alter, Chemo, Faes, Farmalíder, Ferrer, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen-Cilag, Kern, Normon, Servier, Teva, and Zambon. P. de la Cueva has conflict of interests (advisory board member, consultant, grants, research support, participation in clinical trials, honoraria for speaking, and/or research support) with the following pharmaceutical companies: AbbVie (Abbott), Astellas, Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma, Novartis, Pfizer, MSD, Gebro, Isdin, and Lilly. J. L. López Estebaranz has conflict of interests (advisory board member, speaker, or participation in clinical trials) with AbbVie, Amgen, Pfizer, MSD, Janssen-Cilag, Lilly, Celgene. Ofelia Baniandrés has conflict of interests (participation in clinical trials and honoraria for speaking) with the following pharmaceutical companies: AbbVie (Abbott), Janssen-Cilag, Leo Pharma, Pfizer, and MSD.

Authors’ Contribution

Rocío Prieto-Pérez and Guillermo Solano-López contributed equally to the paper.

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS PI10/01740), Fundación Teófilo Hernando, and AbbVie. Rocío Prieto-Pérez has a grant from University Autónoma de Madrid (FPI Program 2013). The authors are grateful to Thomas O’Boyle for editorial assistance and to Cristina Carazo for helping to set up the patient databases.

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