Genetic polymorphism of the Nrf2 promoter region is associated with vitiligo risk in Han Chinese populations

The nuclear factor erythroid-derived two-like 2-antioxidant response element (Nrf2-ARE) pathway and its downstream antioxidant enzyme heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX1 or HO-1) play essential roles in H2 O2 -induced oxidative damage in human melanocytes. However, the link between Nrf2 promoter polymorphisms and susceptibility to oxidative stress-related diseases such as vitiligo is unknown. This study evaluated the association of the Nrf2 and HO-1 genes polymorphisms with vitiligo susceptibility. In this case-control study of 1136 Han Chinese vitiligo patients and 1200 controls, Nrf2 (rs35652124 and rs6721961) and HO-1 (rs2071746) genes were genotyped by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Overall, a significantly decreased risk of vitiligo was found to be associated with Nrf2 rs35652124 CC and combined (CT+CC) genotypes [odds ratio (OR) 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50-0.83 and OR, 0.84, 95% CI 0.71-0.99, respectively], as well as among subgroups: female, onset age ≤20 and never smoker. We subsequently found that Nrf2 rs35652124 C allele had higher transcriptional activity in the luciferase reporter assay compared with Nrf2 rs35652124 T allele. Furthermore, we investigated serum HO-1 activity was associated with the rs35652124 CT+CC genotype and lower in patients than in controls (P = 0.024). Logistic regression analysis showed a dose-response relationship between lower vitiligo risk and increased HO-1 activity in rs35652124 CT+CC genotype carriers (Ptrend < 0.05). These findings indicate that the C allele of rs35652124 located in the promoter region of Nrf2 gene is associated with protective effect on vitiligo in a Han Chinese population.