Genetic investigation of major histocompatibility complex class-I related RAET1 genes for association in a glomerulonephritis population

Chromosome 6q22-27 harbors risk genes for kidney disease. We evaluated 1434 individuals with glomerulonephritis (cases) and 603 unaffected individuals (controls) for RAET1 genes at 6q22-27 using samples from the Medical Research Council/Kidney Research UK Glomerulonephritis DNA bank in a 2-stage approach. Top ranked single nucleotide polymorphisms were also genotyped in kidney transplant recipients (n=571) and their respective donors (n=520) as controls to evaluate association with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Provisional data suggested that rs9397070 in the RAET1G gene was associated with susceptibility to glomerulonephritis [Odds ratio (OR) 1.24, 95%; confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.54, P=0.04] and further supported by additional genotyping (OR 1.22, 95% CI: 1.03-1.42, P=0.02). Genotyping the renal transplant population did not identify any significant association with ESRD. The RAET1 gene family contains candidate genes for kidney disease; however, common RAET1 gene polymorphisms are not identified as strong genetic risk factors for glomerulonephritis in these white populations.