Immunoglobulin allotype gene polymorphisms in systemic sclerosis: interactive effect of MHC class II and KM genes on anticentromere antibody production.
OBJECTIVE
To examine potential interactions between immunoglobulin (Ig)-allotype gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to systemic sclerosis (SSc) as well as serological expression in SSc patients.


METHODS
IgG heavy chain allotypes G1M(f, z), G2M(n+, n-), G3M(b, g) and Ig light chain allotype KM(1, (1, 2), 3) were genotyped in 105 Japanese SSc patients and 47 race matched normal controls using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods. Associations of each Ig allotype with SSc related antinuclear antibodies were examined in combination with or without MHC class II alleles.


RESULTS
GM/KM genotypic and allelic frequencies were similar in SSc patients and in normal controls. Frequencies of G1M(f) and G2M(n+) were significantly decreased in anticentromere antibody (ACA) positive SSc patients compared with ACA negative SSc patients (p = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). Conversely, the presence of DQB1*0501 and KM(1, 2) significantly increased the risk of ACA positivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Ig allotype gene polymorphisms were not associated with susceptibility to SSc. Instead, the results suggested that MHC class II and KM genes are associated with autoimmune responses by interactively promoting the production of ACA.
Kameda
H
H
Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Pandey
J P
JP
Kaburaki
J
J
Inoko
H
H
Kuwana
M
M
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002503:Centromere / Q000276:immunology*; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes / Q000235:genetics*; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D007126:Immunoglobulin Allotypes; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007147:Immunoglobulin Light Chains