title: Associations between major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A polymorphisms and susceptibility to Behcet's disease. A meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this work was to investigate whether major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A (MICA) polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to Behcet's disease (BD).
  
  
  METHODS
  A meta-analysis was conducted on the associations between the MICA-transmembrane (TM) A6 allele and the 009 allele of MICA exon 2-4 (MICA*009) and BD with or without HLA-B51 overall and in each ethnic group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifteen comparison studies were included in this meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed a significant association between the MICA-TM A6 allele and BD in European, Asian, and Arab populations [odds ratio (OR) 1.436, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.111-1.857, p = 0.006; OR 1.999, 95 % CI 1.551-2.575, p = 8.0 × 10(-8); OR 1.333, 95 % CI 1.058-2.300, p = 0.025, respectively,]). Stratification by HLA-B51 showed an association between the MICA-TM A6 allele and BD with HLA-B51 in the overall group and in the European population. Meta-analysis showed a significant association between the MICA*009 allele and BD in the overall group (OR 3.948, 95 % CI 2.680-5.815, p < 1.0 × 10(-8)) and in the European population (OR 3.392, 95 % CI 2.118-5.433, p = 5.6 × 10(-6)). A significant association was found between the MICA*009 allele and B51-positive BD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis shows that the MICA-TM A6 allele and the MICA*009 allele are associated with BD susceptibility in various ethnic populations, and that MICA alleles are in strong linkage disequilibrium with HLA-B51 in BD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 126-1, Anam-dong 5-ga, Seongbuk-gu, 136-705, Seoul, Korea. lyhcgh@korea.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 126-1, Anam-dong 5-ga, Seongbuk-gu, 136-705, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: G G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies / Q000379:methods; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; C099187:MHC class I-related chain A
keywords: Behcet syndrome; HLA-B51 antigen; Histocompatibility antigens class I; MICA; Polymorphism, genetic