Specific HLA-DQA and HLA-DRB1 alleles confer susceptibility to Sjögren's syndrome and autoantibody production.
Primary Sjögren's syndrome (1. SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by lymphocytic infiltration of the salivary glands and autoantibody production. In order to identify genetic factors that play a role in pathogenesis and predict extent of disease, we used Southern blot and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods to detect polymorphisms of the HLA-DRB1 (DR), HLA-DRB3 (DRw52), and HLA-DQA1 genes among 75 Caucasoid 1. SS patients and 150 Caucasoid controls living in the same geographic region of Southern California. We found significantly increased frequency of HLA-DR3 (P less than .001), HLA-DW52a (P less than .001), and HLA-DQA4 (P less than .05), in comparison to normal controls. Also, an increased frequency of heterozygosity for HLA-DQA1/DQA4 (P less than .05) was present among 1. SS patients. Autoantibodies to SS-A and to SS-B were significantly associated with DR3 (P less than .001), HLA-DQA4, (P less than .05), and DQA4/DQA1 heterozygotes (P less than .01). Among the 1. SS patients, clinical and laboratory features such as hypergammaglobulinemia, symmetric peripheral neuropathy, and hypothyroidism were significantly associated with HLA-DR3 (P less than .01) but not with HLA-DR2 (P greater than .10). In comparison, 1. SS patients with leukocytoclastic vasculitis were more frequently HLA-DR2 (P less than .05). These results using PCR methods confirm and extend prior studies that have used serologic methods.
Department of Immunology, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, LaJolla, California.
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Kang
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Erlich
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D059826:HLA-DRB3 Chains; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D059826:HLA-DRB3 Chains; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D004247:DNA