Rheumatology Advance Access originally published online on September 26, 2006
Rheumatology 2007 46(3):426-430; doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kel331
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MHC class I chain-related gene B (MICB) is associated with rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility
Department of Functional Biology, University of Oviedo, 1Department of Rheumatology and 2Histocompatibility and Transplantation Unit, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
Correspondence to: Segundo González, MD, PhD, Department of Functional Biology, Instituto Oncológico del principado de Asturias, Universidad de Oviedo, Facultad de Medicina, Julián Clavería sn, 33006, Oviedo, Spain. E-mail: segundog{at}uniovi.es
| Abstract |
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Objectives. Several recent studies have shown that the MHC class III region, located telomeric to HLA-DRB1, contains an additional genetic factor that predisposes to rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study, we investigate whether inhibitor of
B-like (I
BL), MICB or MICA located in the MHC class III region are the second susceptibility gene associated with RA.
Methods. A total of 154 healthy controls and 140 RA patients were genotyped for HLA-DRB1, MICA, MICB and the polymorphism 62 of the I
BL gene.
Results. A significant increase of HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE) alleles was detected in RA patients (61.4 vs 43.5%, Pc = 0.01, OR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.33.3). Among SE alleles, the HLA-DRB1*0401 (13.5 vs 5.1%, Pc = 0.04, OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.38.1) and HLA-DRB1*0404 (6.4 vs 1.2%, P = 0.02, Pc = NS) showed the most significantly association with RA. No increase of risk was associated with HLA-DRB1*01. Remarkably, the allele MICB*004 was also significantly associated with RA susceptibility (40.7 vs 23.3%, Pc = 0.01, OR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.33.7). MICB*004 was in linkage disequilibrium with HLA-DRB1*0404 (
s = 0.33) and HLA-DRB1*0405 (
s = 0.34). However, MICB*004 was also increased in HLA-DRB1 SE negative patients (37 vs 21.5%, P = 0.04). No significant association between I
BL and MICA with RA was found.
Conclusions. MICB*004 allele was associated with RA susceptibility. This allele was in linkage disequilibrium with HLA-DRB1*0404 and DRB1*0405. The association of MICB with RA susceptibility and the functional role of MIC genes in the pathogenesis of RA converts MICB into a candidate to be an additional MHC gene associated with RA susceptibility.
KEY WORDS: Rheumatoid arthritis, MHC, HLA-DR, MICB, MICA, I
BL
Submitted 21 July 2006;
revised version accepted 15 August 2006.
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