A meta-analysis was performed to survey studies on the NOD2/CARD15 polymorphisms and psoriasis/PsA using comprehensive PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science citation search.
Our study supported the involvement of six candidate genes in susceptibility to psoriasis: SCL12A8, which belongs to the solute carrier gene family; FLG and TGM5, which are involved in epidermal differentiation; CARD15 and CYLD, which modulate the transcription factor NF-kB; and IL1RN, which encodes an IL receptor antagonist.
CARD15, a major susceptibility gene for Crohn's disease (CD) on chromosome 16q, is an interesting candidate gene for psoriasis, because there is a documented clinical association of CD with psoriasis, and recently the association of CARD15 mutations with PsA was reported in Newfoundland population.
The existence of a common susceptibility gene for psoriasis/PsA and Crohn disease was recently demonstrated by evidence of association of CARD15 polymorphisms with PsA.
We failed to observe any significant difference between patients and controls, thereby excluding the presence of a strong genetic association between CARD15 gene polymorphisms and psoriasis, in the Italian population.