Association of Mir-146a Rs2910164 and Mir-499 Rs3746444 Variants with Vitiligo Susceptibility: An Iraqi Case–Control Study

Introduction: Vitiligo is an immune-mediated depigmenting disorder with a complex genetic basis. Variants within precursor microRNAs may influence post-transcriptional regulation and thereby modify disease susceptibility. Aim of this study was to determine whether miR-146a rs2910164 G/C and miR-499 rs3746444 T/C are associated with vitiligo in an Iraqi population. Methods: This hospital-based case-control study included 84 patients with vitiligo and 90 healthy controls recruited at Baghdad Teaching Hospital between August and December 2025. Tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system PCR was used to genotype both variations after genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. Results: The miR-499 rs3746444 TC genotype was more frequent among patients than controls (36.9% vs 30.0%) and was associated with vitiligo (OR = 2.97, 95% CI = 1.16–7.65; P = 0.024). The C allele was likewise associated with higher odds (OR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.20–3.04; P = 0.006). After adjustment, the TC genotype remained independently associated with case status (adjusted OR = 3.43, 95% CI = 1.09–10.77; P = 0.034). No significant association was observed for rs2910164. Positive family history and diabetes were also retained in the multivariable model. Conclusion: The findings identify rs3746444 as a candidate susceptibility locus in this Iraqi cohort and support its further evaluation in larger, independent populations with functional validation.