title: Structural and genetic features of human leukocytic antigen class II elements associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Analysis of individual human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes associated with rheumatoid arthritis was performed using oligonucleotide probes to identify putative susceptibility genes highly associated with disease. Among DR4-positive rheumatoid arthritis patients, two distinct DR-beta genes, Dw4 and Dw14, appear to be individual susceptibility alleles. Linked HLA genes at the DQ locus do not appear to contribute to this genetic risk. Among non-DR4 rheumatoid arthritis patients, a specific DNA sequence was identified that is shared by the Dw14 susceptibility gene and a majority of the non-DR4 rheumatoid arthritis patients. This sequence defines a specific small genetic element encoding a "Dw14 epitope" that appears to be a rheumatoid arthritis-associated risk factor indicative of a common genetic pathway in both DR4 and non-DR4-associated disease.
authors: Virginia Mason Research Center, Seattle, Washington, Immunology Research Program 98101.
authors: G T
authors: GT
authors: Nepom
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000235:genetics; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens