title: HLA-B27 and modified bone formation.
abstract: Of the many associations between histocompatibility antigens and human diseases a prominent one is that between HLA-B27 and inflammatory arthropathies. Hypotheses to explain this association include the B27 gene being linked to a specific immune-response gene required for disease expression and the B27 antigen acting via molecular mimicry with a microorganism or as a microorganism receptor. Alternatively, the HLA-B27 gene might be closely related to a gene which influences bone formation. The finding of a significant association between B27 and Forestier's disease, a disease characterised by abundant new bone formation, supports such a hypothesis.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D000939:Epitopes; D005096:Exostoses / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010012:Osteogenesis; D012737:Sex Factors; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000276:immunology*; D013577:Syndrome
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006680:HLA Antigens; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens