HLA-DPB1*0201 is associated with particular clinical features of rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
to determine the effect of HLA-DPB1 status on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility and disease expression.


METHODS
HLA-DPB1 alleles were identified in 158 RA patients and 106 controls using PCR-sequence specific oligonucleotide probing. HLA-DPB1 allele frequencies were compared between patient and control groups and the strength of associations assessed using odds ratios and with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Associations observed in the total RA group were confirmed using a relative predispositional effect (RPE) analysis.


RESULTS
an association between DPB1*0201 and RA was observed (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.0-3.4). By contrast, negative associations were found with DPB1*0301 (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-1.0) and DPB1*1101 (OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.001-0.5). These associations were confirmed using RPE analysis. On further analysis the increase in DPB1*0201 and decrease in DPB1*0301 frequencies in RA was found to be independent of DR4 status. The association of DPB1*0201 with RA appears to be most pronounced in male patients (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.3-8.3), seronegative patients (OR 2.6, 95% CI 0.9-7.3) those with non-erosive disease (OR 2.6, 95% CI 0.9-7.3) or in patients with high titre antinuclear antibodies (OR 2.4, 95% CI 0.8-7.1).


CONCLUSIONS
HLA-DPB1 alleles may be associated with the pattern of disease expression in certain RA patients and in some cases confer protection against disease.
Carthy
D
D
ARC Epidemiology Research Unit, University of Manchester, UK.
MacGregor
A
A
Awomoi
A
A
Rigby
A S
AS
Thomson
W
W
Donn
R
R
Silman
A
A
Ollier
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D059868:HLA-DP beta-Chains; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D059868:HLA-DP beta-Chains; C071170:HLA-DPB1 antigen; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen