Analysis of T cell receptor V alpha polymorphisms in rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To test for association of T cell receptor (TCR) V alpha polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in British and Swiss white populations.


METHODS
TCRAV polymorphisms were analysed in RA patients and controls by single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) analysis. Associations were sought between defined genotypes and RA, and the effect of HLA-DR4 status analysed. Putative associations were then retested further in new groups of patients and controls. Overall, 360 RA patients and 197 controls were studied.


RESULTS
No association between TCRAV5S1, V6S1, V8S1, V17S1 or V21S1 polymorphisms and RA were observed in the initial population screened. Stratification for DR4 status showed an increase of V5S1*01/*01 in DR4 positive versus DR4 negative patients (chi 2 = 7.19, p = 0.028 (2df), p = 0.14 after correction for multiple comparisons). This putative association was tested in three further patient groups, none of which showed significant increase of V5S1*01/*01 in DR4 positive patients, although an overall trend towards an increase in V5S1*01/*01 was observed.


CONCLUSIONS
No evidence was found for a strong association of TCRAV genes and RA in a white population. However, these results suggest a weak association of V5S1*01/*01 with DR4 positive RA, although this requires confirmation using larger groups of patients and controls.
Ibberson
M
M
Rheumatology Unit, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London.
Péclat
V
V
Guerne
P A
PA
Tiercy
J M
JM
Wordsworth
P
P
Lanchbury
J
J
Camilleri
J
J
So
A K
AK
D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D019673:Genes, T-Cell Receptor alpha / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D013557:Switzerland; D006113:United Kingdom; D044465:White People
D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen