title: Studies of HLA-B27-associated disease.
abstract: Several rheumatic diseases were first shown to be associated with human leukocytic antigen (HLA)-B27 in 1973. Recent developments in understanding this association include the finding that there are at least six variants of HLA-B27 at the molecular level, with no one variant preferentially associated with disease. Detailed studies of the structure of the HLA-B27 molecular family are in progress in several laboratories. Mice expressing HLA-B27 and transmitting it to their offspring (transgenic mice) have been produced and are being studied for their response to bacteria that are known to trigger reactive arthritis in B27+ humans. A particular restriction fragment length polymorphism was recently claimed to be a genetic marker for an additional risk factor in ankylosing spondylitis, but two other laboratories have failed to confirm this finding.
authors.affiliation: Harold C. Simmons Arthritis Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Taurog
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Durand
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: el-Zaatari
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hammer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000235:genetics; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; C025630:CAGCTG-specific type II deoxyribonucleases; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific