The contribution of HLA-DQB1 coding and QBP promoter alleles to anti-Ro alone autoantibody response in systemic lupus erythematosus.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the influence of HLA-DR, DQ and corresponding DQA1 and DQB1 promoter alleles (QAP and QBP) on the anti-Ro alone autoantibody response in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
Sixty-five unrelated anti-La antibody-negative SLE patients, 37 of them with and 28 without anti-Ro antibodies, were included. Anti-Ro antibodies were determined by both counter-immunoelectrophoresis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Seventy-four healthy individuals were selected as controls. The patients and controls were analysed for HLA-DRB1, QAP, DQA1, QBP and DQB1 alleles by DNA typing. The allelic frequencies of anti-Ro alone-positive and anti-Ro-negative SLE patients and healthy controls were compared using the chi(2) test or Fisher's exact test as appropriate.


RESULTS
The DQB1*0202 allele showed a significant positive correlation with anti-Ro alone antibodies [odds ratio (OR)=16.949, P=0.0015, corrected P=0.018], while the QBP5.11 allele and the combination of DQB1*0301 and its promoter QBP3.1 were under-represented in anti-Ro-alone-positive SLE patients (P=0.01, corrected P=0.048 and corrected P=0.048 respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The above-mentioned alleles may contribute to the presence or absence of anti-Ro alone autoantibodies in SLE patients.
Logar
D
D
Department of Rheumatology, University Medical Centre, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Vidan-Jeras
B
B
Dolzan
V
V
Bozic
B
B
Kveder
T
T
D000328:Adult; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000276:immunology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins / Q000276:immunology*; D000099207:SS-A Antigen
D001324:Autoantigens; D004247:DNA; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059848:HLA-DQ alpha-Chains; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D020733:RNA, Small Cytoplasmic; D012261:Ribonucleoproteins; D000099207:SS-A Antigen; C069050:HLA-DQA1 antigen; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; C116006:RO60 protein, human