title: Ankylosing spondylitis: a beta2m-deposition disease?
abstract: To explain the strong association between HLA-B27 and ankylosing spondylitis, we suggest that the release of beta(2)-microglobulin (beta(2)m) from a subpopulation of cell surface-expressed HLA-B27 molecules leads to beta(2)m-deposition within synovia and to the initiation of an inflammatory process, which culminates in destructive spondyloarthropathy.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Immungenetik, Universitätsklinikum Charité, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Spandauer Damm 130, 14050 Berlin, Germany. barbara.uchanska-ziegler@charite.de
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Uchanska-Ziegler
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziegler
mesh_terms: D017920:Antiporters / Q000378:metabolism; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D008954:Models, Biological; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017920:Antiporters; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; C107762:tapasin