HLA and clinical associations in systemic sclerosis patients with anti-Th/To antibodies.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical and immunogenetic features of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients with anti-Th/To autoantibodies.


METHODS
HLA class II alleles were determined by DNA oligotyping in a large group of SSc patients with anticentromere antibodies (ACA), anti-topoisomerase I (anti-topo I), and anti-Th/To autoantibodies.


RESULTS
Clinical features of the 28 anti-Th/To-positive SSc patients were similar to those observed in the 56 ACA-positive SSc patients, except for a decreased frequency of gastrointestinal involvement in anti-Th/To-positive patients. Immunogenetic analysis revealed a significant increase in the frequency of HLA-DR11 in the anti-Th/To-positive and the anti-topo I-positive patients. The anti-Th/To-positive patients also had a significant reduction in the frequency of HLA-DR7, similar to that seen in ACA-positive SSc patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite clinical and immunogenetic similarities with both the ACA- and anti-topo I-positive patients, anti-Th/To-positive SSc patients present a characteristic pattern of clinical and immunogenetic features that may have implications regarding etiology, pathogenesis, and treatment.
Falkner
D
D
University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Wilson
J
J
Medsger
T A
TA
Morel
P A
PA
D000483:Alleles; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002503:Centromere / Q000276:immunology; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / Q000276:immunology*; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D012320:RNA Polymerase III / Q000276:immunology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
D001323:Autoantibodies; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D012320:RNA Polymerase III; D004264:DNA Topoisomerases, Type I