Several of the SNPs with nominal significance in the range 10-4 to 10-5 (Supplementary Table 7) map to genes with plausible biological relevance. Examples include SNPs within genes implicated in the TNF pathway (for example, rs2771369 in TNFAIP2 (tumour necrosis factor, alpha-induced protein 2)) or in the regulation of T-cell function (rs854350 in GZMB (granzyme B) and rs4750316 in PRKCQ (protein kinase C, theta)). The association with rs10786617 in KAZALD1 (Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor domain-containing protein 1 precursor), a gene whose product is known to have a role in bone regeneration after injury, may be relevant to the development of bone erosions in RA.
