The genetic basis of gout
An individual’s risk of gout is determined by a complex relationship between inherited genetic variants and environmental exposures. Genetic variants that control hyperuricaemia and subsequent progression to clinical gout specify pathogenic pathways that could be therapeutically targeted. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have provided novel insights into the pathways leading to hyperuricaemia. GWAS have identified the renal uric acid transporter SLC2A9/GLUT9 and the gut excretory molecule ABCG2, which each have very strong genetic effects in the control of urate levels and risk of gout. Histone deacetylase inhibitors are able to correct the genetically-determined ABCG2 dysfunction. Other renal uric acid transporters, such as SLC22A11/OAT4 and SLC22A12/URAT1 have been confirmed to be genetically associated with urate and the risk of gout. Genes that generate urate during glycolysis (e.g. GCKR) are also implicated. In contrast very little is known about genetic variants that control the progression from hyperuricaemia to gout with the toll-like receptor 4 gene being the only gene with replicated evidence of association.