title: Ankylosing spondylitis and heterogeneity of HLA-B27 in Chinese.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the relationship between ankylosing spondylitis and heterogeneity of HLA-B27 in Chinese.
  
  
  METHODS
  We subtyped HLA-B27 in 76 patients with ankylosing spondylitis and 1 200 healthy Chinese of Han nationality. Polymerase chain reaction was designed to amplify specific regions of class I (exon 2 and 3). Amplified sequences were tested with eight sequence-specific oligonucleotides to distinguish all HLA-B27 subtypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HLA-B27 was closely related to ankylosing spondylitis and at least four subtypes presented in Chinese patients. B2704 was the most common subtype, occurring in 54.8% and 50.85% respectively in HLA-B27 positive ankylosing spondylitis patients and healthy controls. The main HLA-B27 subtypes in the HLA-B27 positive patients distributed in similar proportion to those of HLA-B27 positive healthy controls (P < 0.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalences of various subtypes of HLA-B27 vary in different races. HLA-B2704 is the main subtype in Chinese Han nationality. The HLA-B27 specific residues that are shared by the subtypes might be involved in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis.
authors: Arthritis Clinic and Research Center, People's Hospital, Beijing Medical University.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Lin
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Lü
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Feng
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People; D001483:Base Sequence; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen