HLA-DM polymorphisms in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the contribution of HLA-DMA and DMB genes, which play a crucial role in the HLA class II restricted antigen presentation pathway, in susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).


METHODS
The distribution of DMA and DMB alleles was examined in patients with RA and in healthy subjects by oligotyping of PCR amplified genomic DNA with sequence specific oligonucleotide probes.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in the prevalence of DMA and DMB alleles in patients with RA as compared to healthy controls. In addition, no significant differences in frequencies of DMA and DMB alleles were observed in RA susceptibility epitope positive RA patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
DMA and DMB genes do not appear to play a role in susceptibility to RA.
Department of Pathology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
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D000483:Alleles; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; D006801:Humans; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
C416189:H2-M antigens; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; C084245:HLA-DM antigens; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II