LMP polymorphisms do not influence disease expression in psoriatic arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the potential role of the HLA-linked LMP2 (low molecular weight protein) and LMP7 gene polymorphisms in conjunction with HLA class I and class II genes on the disease pattern in individuals with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).


METHODS
Sixty-three patients with PsA and 99 unrelated controls were typed for HLA-class I and II antigens. LMP2 and LMP7 polymorphisms were determined by PCR and subsequent single stranded conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis or restriction enzyme digestion.


RESULTS
PsA was associated with B27 (p < 0.0004), B57 (p < 0.002) and Cw2 (p < 0.008). Spondylarthritis was strongly associated with HLA-B27 (p < 0.000001), Cw2 (p < 0.0003) and DR4 (p < 0.008). For the polyarthritic pattern the only association was with B57 (p < 0.007). There was no association between the LMP2 or LMP7 genotypes and any particular disease pattern.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings do not support an involvement of the HLA linked LMP2 and LMP7 gene polymorphisms in disease expression in psoriatic arthritis in addition to the known HLA class I and II associations.
Höhler
T
T
I Medical Department, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany.
Schneider
P M
PM
Rittner
C
C
Hasenclever
P
P
Meyer zum Büschenfelde
K H
KH
Märker-Hermann
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
C037662:EBV-associated membrane antigen, Epstein-Barr virus; D006680:HLA Antigens; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D011506:Proteins; D014763:Viral Matrix Proteins; D004247:DNA; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C077436:LMP7 protein; D046988:Proteasome Endopeptidase Complex