Urokinase gene 3'-UTR T/C polymorphism is associated with urolithiasis.

OBJECTIVES

To study single nucleotide polymorphisms to investigate the possibility that urokinase is involved in the formation of urolithiasis, which, although lacking in genetic evidence, has been previously proposed.

METHODS

A total of 153 patients with recurrent calcium stones and 105 controls were studied. Polymerase chain reaction-based restriction analysis was used to identify the C/T polymorphism of the urokinase gene, which is mapped on the 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) on chromosome 10.

RESULTS

A significant difference was found in the distribution of the urokinase gene 3'-UTR C/T polymorphism frequency between patients with stones and normal controls (P <0.05). The odds ratio for the risk of the "T" allele in patients with stones was 3.088 (95% confidence interval 1.06 to 8.99).

CONCLUSIONS

The results of our study demonstrate that the urokinase gene 3'-UTR "T" allele is associated with calcium stone disease. Individuals possessing the "T" allele have a higher incidence of calcium oxalate stone disease. The results of this study provide genetic evidence that the urokinase gene may play a role in stone formation.