Immunoglobulin gene implicated in murine herpes stromal keratitis is not associated with the human disease.
OBJECTIVE
Susceptibility to herpes stromal keratitis (HSK) is strongly influenced by genetic factors, as shown by multiple rodent models using human herpes simplex virus. A single gene, encoding the immunoglobulin G (IgG) 2a heavy chain protein, confers susceptibility or resistance through a mechanism involving molecular mimicry in one mouse model. However, other rodent studies have produced contradictory results. This study tested the hypothesis that the GM23 gene (the human IgG2a homolog) influences susceptibility to HSK in humans.


METHODS
The study population consisted of all consenting patients diagnosed with HSK (25 whites, 2 African Americans) at the Medical University of South Carolina Storm Eye Institute Clinic in Charleston, SC, between August 2000 and June 2004. Healthy controls (23 white adults with no history of HSK) were recruited from the same local population. Genomic DNA from subjects was genotyped at the GM23 locus, which has been implicated as an HSK resistance gene in animal models, by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.


RESULTS
No difference in GM23 genotype frequency was observed between patients with HSK and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Susceptibility to HSK in whites is not predicted by GM23 genotype.
Kasman
Laura M
LM
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29403, USA. kasmanl@musc.edu
Biber
Joseph M
JM
Vroman
David T
DT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D003319:Corneal Stroma; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005803:Genes, Immunoglobulin; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000235:genetics; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains