Genetic Polymorphism Characterizations of Chemokine CCL22 and Immunological Analysis in a Group of Iraqi Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32007/jfacmedbaghdad3398Keywords:
Biomarker, CCL22, Genetic polymorphism, Rheumatoid arthritis, rs34057704Abstract
Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disorder in which genetic susceptibility and immune dysfunction play diverse roles in rheumatoid arthritis pathogenesis. C-C motif chemokine ligand 22 (CCL22) has recently been recognized as an inflammatory chemokine involved in leukocyte recruitment and inflammatory responses. However, its clinical and genetic relevance remains inadequately investigated in Middle Eastern populations.
Objectives: To assess serum CCL22 levels and investigate CCL22 gene polymorphisms in a group of Iraqi individuals with rheumatoid arthritis.
Methods: Sixty individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, consisting of 11 early and 49 chronic rheumatoid arthritis subjects along with 60 age- and sex-matched healthy controls recruited from relatives and friends after screening for the absence of diseases, participated in this case-control study conducted at the Rheumatology Unit of Al-Yarmouk Hospital between October and December 2025. The concentration of CCL22 was quantified in the serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the genotyping of the rs34057704 polymorphism of the CCL22 gene was carried out using polymerase chain reaction followed by Sanger sequencing.
Results: Serum CCL22 were significantly higher in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared with controls (P < 0.0001), with the maximum mean levels seen in early rheumatoid arthritis patients (1314.0 ± 374.80 pg/mL). Positive correlations were found between serum CCL22 levels and disease activity score 28 and serum C-reactive protein levels. Receiver characteristic curve analysis demonstrated strong discrimination of serum CCL22 between rheumatoid arthritis cases and controls (area under the curve = 0.8844, sensitivity = 85%, specificity = 77%). Genotypic analysis also indicated an association between rs34057704 polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis.
Conclusion: Serum CCL22 levels and CCL22 gene variation were related to rheumatoid arthritis risk and disease activity. The present findings support the possible use of CCL22 as a marker for rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis and follow-up.
Received: 15 June 2026
Revised: 28 Aug. 2026
Accepted: 10 Sept. 2026
Published Online: Sept. 2026
Published: 1st Oct. 2026
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Copyright (c) 2026 Tiba T. Ahmed, Aseel S. Mahmood
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