Molecularly defined HLA-DR2 alleles in ulcerative colitis and an antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive subgroup.
OBJECTIVE
Although HLA-DR2 is associated with Japanese ulcerative colitis, data regarding an HLA-DR2 association in other populations are conflicting. A recent study suggests that HLA-DR2 is only associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive ulcerative colitis. The aim of this study was to determine whether HLA-DR2 or the molecularly defined alleles within the HLA-DR2 group are associated with ulcerative colitis or a perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive subgroup.


METHODS
Unrelated white patients with a history of ulcerative colitis (n = 97) and control subjects matched to patients for Jewish ethnicity and sex (n = 149) were studied. An immunofluorescence assay was used to detect perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. A molecular, DNA-based method was used to perform HLA-DR2 typing.


RESULTS
HLA-DRB1*1601 was present in 11 of 149 controls and 1 of 97 patients (P = 0.031, corrected P, not significant; Fisher's Exact Test). There were no other significant differences between ulcerative colitis or ulcerative colitis stratified by perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody status and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The HLA-DR2 group of alleles is not associated with ulcerative colitis or a perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-positive subgroup. The unexpected finding of a decreased frequency of HLA-DRB1*1601 in ulcerative colitis should be further investigated.
Duerr
R H
RH
Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania.
Neigut
D A
DA
D000483:Alleles; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001483:Base Sequence; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D001323:Autoantibodies; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen