title: HLA DQ beta restriction fragment length polymorphism and rheumatoid arthritis. Association between DQw7 and rheumatoid arthritis in DR4-positive subjects.
abstract: Two variants of the HLA-DR4-linked DQw3 allele, namely DQw7 and DQw8, were analysed in patients of mixed ancestry (Cape Coloureds) with rheumatoid arthritis and in healthy individuals from the same population group using a DQ beta-specific cDNA probe. The DQw7 allele, identified by 3,4 kb Hind III or 3,7 kb and 6,9 kb Bam HI DQ beta-specific restriction fragments, was expressed in 93% of DR4-positive patients (N = 15), compared with 12.5% DR4-positive normal individuals (N = 8). This DQ variant showed a highly significant association (relative risk = 98; P less than 0.0001) with rheumatoid arthritis in this population group and may play a role in their susceptibility to this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rousseau
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: du Toit
authors.forename: O L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Ress
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics*; D015343:DNA Probes, HLA; D005260:Female; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
chemical_list: D015343:DNA Probes, HLA; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen