en Community Medicine Community Medicine Review Article Review Article <p> <strong> Background </strong>:Cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) is an important negative regulator of T-cell responses. The -1722TC polymorphism of the CTLA-4 gene may be associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) risk, but related results from previous studies have been inconsiste<a name="_GoBack"></a>nt. We carried out a meta-analysis to assess this association more precisely. </p><p> <strong> Methods </strong>: A systematic search through PubMed, Science Direct, and OVID, Iran doc, Iranmedex and SID (Scientific Information Database) databases was performed with the last search updated on December 30, 2011. The odds of ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were used to assess the strength of the association. We evaluated both fixed and random effect models, depending on the presence of between-study heterogeneity. The analyses were conducted using STATA software, version 11.0. </p><p> <strong> Results </strong>: A total of 9 independent studies on the CTLA-4 gene -1722TC polymorphism and SLE, including 1422 cases and 1417 controls were used in this meta-analysis. In the present meta-analysis, we found a significant association between -1722TC polymorphism and SLE risk in the overall analysis (TT versus TC/CC: OR=1.18, 95%CI 0.84-1.66, p= 0.32 TT/TC versus CC: OR = 2.06, 95%CI 1.07–3.99, p= 0.03 TT versus CC: OR = 2.32, 95%CI 1.62–3.32, p< 0.001 TC versus CC: OR = 1.99, 95%CI 1.42–2.78, p<0.001 TT versus TC: OR = 1.2, 95%CI 0.86–1.66, p= 0.28 T versus C: OR = 1.22, 95%CI 0.91–1.64, p= 0.16). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, -1722TC polymorphism was significantly associated with SLE risk in Asian population. </p><p> <strong> Conclusion </strong>: This meta-analysis suggests a significant association between -1722TC polymorphism and SLE susceptibility. Large-scale and well-designed case-control studies are necessary to validate the risk identified in the present meta-analysis. </p> Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 1722TC polymorphism, CTLA-4, Meta-analysis. 892 899 http://mjiri.iums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1569-14&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mahdieh Shojaa mahdieh.shojaa_mw@yahoo.com 200319475328460013990 200319475328460013990 No Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mehrdad Aghaie mehrdad.aghaei@yahoo.com 200319475328460013991 200319475328460013991 No Department of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran. Mostafa Qorbani Mqorbani1379@yahoo.com 200319475328460013992 200319475328460013992 Yes Department of Community Medicine, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran & Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Patricia Khashayar patricia.kh@gmail.com 200319475328460013993 200319475328460013993 No Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Mahsa Amoli amolimm@tums.ac.ir 200319475328460013994 200319475328460013994 No Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Abbas Ali Keshtkar abkeshtkar@gmail.com 200319475328460013995 200319475328460013995 No Osteoporosis Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Ramin Mohebi mehranmohebi@gmail.com 200319475328460013996 200319475328460013996 No Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Shahed University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Hossein Ansari ansarih88@gmail.com 200319475328460013997 200319475328460013997 No Health Promotion Research Center, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran. Hamid Asayesh asayeshpsy@gmail.com 200319475328460013998 200319475328460013998 No Department of Medical Emergencies, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran. Shima Rokn Sharifi roknsharifi.sh@gmail.com 200319475328460013999 200319475328460013999 No Rheumatology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.