Pooling analysis regarding the impact of human vitamin D receptor variants on the odds of psoriasis

Abstract Background The study aims at scientifically investigating the genetic effect of four polymorphisms (rs7975232, rs1544410, rs2228570, and rs731236) within the human Vitamin D Receptor (VDR) gene on the odds of psoriasis through an updated meta-analysis. Methods We searched eight databases and screened the studies for pooling. Finally, a total of eighteen eligible case-control studies were included. BH (Benjamini & Hochberg) adjusted P-values of association (Passociation) and odd ratios (ORs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated under the allele, homozygote, heterozygote, dominant, recessive, and carrier models. Results Compared with the negative controls, no statistically significant difference in the odds of psoriasis was detected for the cases under any genetic models (BH adjusted Passociation > 0.05). We also performed subgroup meta-analyses by the source of controls, ethnicity, country, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and genotyping method. Similar results were observed in most subgroup meta-analyses (BH adjusted Passociation > 0.05). Besides, data of Begg’s and Egger’s tests excluded the significant publication bias; while the sensitivity analysis data further indicated the statistical reliability of our pooling results. Conclusion The currently available data fails to support a robust association between VDR rs7975232, rs1544410, rs2228570 and rs731236 polymorphisms and psoriasis susceptibility, which still required the support of more case-control studies.