Journal of
Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology Research

  • Abbreviation: J. Clin. Immunol. Immunopathol. Res.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 2141-2219
  • DOI: 10.5897/JCIIR
  • Start Year: 2009
  • Published Articles: 24

Full Length Research Paper

Association of HLA-G 14bp insertion/deletion polymorphism with autoantibody production in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Feng-Xia WU
  • Feng-Xia WU
  • Institute of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, P. R. China.
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Li-Jun Wu
  • Li-Jun Wu
  • Department of Rheumatology, People`s Hosptial of XinJiang Uygur Autonomus Region, Urumchi, XiJiang, P. R. China.
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Xiong-Yan Luo
  • Xiong-Yan Luo
  • Institute of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, P. R. China.
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Zhong Tang
  • Zhong Tang
  • Institute of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, P. R. China.
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Ming-Hui Yang
  • Ming-Hui Yang
  • Institute of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, P. R. China.
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Yan-Hui Xia
  • Yan-Hui Xia
  • Institute of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, P. R. China.
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Chuan-Mei Xie
  • Chuan-Mei Xie
  • Institute of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, P. R. China.
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Ning-Tao Liu
  • Ning-Tao Liu
  • Department of Rheumatology, Suining Municipal People’s Hospital, Suining City, Sichuan, P. R. China.
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Xiao-Feng Zeng
  • Xiao-Feng Zeng
  • Department of Rheumatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Jian-Long Guan
  • Jian-Long Guan
  • Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, P. R. China.
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Guo-Hua Yuan
  • Guo-Hua Yuan
  • Institute of Rheumatology and Immunology, Affiliated Hospital, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, Sichuan, P. R. China.
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  •  Accepted: 21 June 2010
  •  Published: 31 August 2010

Abstract

HLA-G is a non-classical HLA-class Ib molecule and has multiple immunoregulatory properties. A 14bp insertion/deletion polymorphism in the HLA-G gene has been suggested to influence the expression of HLA-G and then to associate with certain pathological conditions, including autoimmune diseases. The aim of study was to evaluate the possible association of the HLA-G 14bp insertion (+14bp) and deletion (-14bp) polymorphism with autoantibody production in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. A total of 504 patients with rheumatic diseases and 367 unrelated healthy controls from a Chinese Han population were HLA-G genotyped for the 14bp insertion/deletion polymorphism. No statistically significant differences were observed in the frequencies of the HLA-G 14bp insertion/deletion alleles or genotypes between controls and patients with rheumatic disease. However, significant differences in the distribution of the HLA-G 14bp insertion/deletion polymorphism could be demonstrated for patients with positive anti-snRNP antibodies and patients with positive anti-histone antibodies when compared with the respective antibody-negative patients. The anti-snRNP antibodies positive group showed markedly increased frequencies of the +14bp allele (P = 0.0001, OR = 1.794, 95% CI = 1.329 - 2.422) as well as the +14/-14bp heterozygotes (P = 0.0001, OR = 2.306, 95% CI = 1.511 - 3.521). Moreover, an increased frequencies of the -14bp allele (P = 0.0001, OR = 2.302, 95% CI = 1.657 - 3.198) and the -14/-14bp homozygous genotype (P = 0.0001, OR = 3.035, 95% CI = 1.974 - 4.667) was observed in the patients with positive anti-histone antibodies. These findings are the first time to indicate that the HLA-G 14bp insertion/deletion polymorphism could be a genetic risk factor influencing the susceptibility for the autoantibody production in rheumatic diseases.

 

Key wordsHLA-G, polymorphism, autoantibodies, rheumatic disease.