Association of specific amino acid sequence (QRRAA) of HLA-DRB1*0405 with rheumatoid arthritis in a Tunisian population.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate HLA-DRB1 alleles in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients from Tunisia and to examine the effect of these alleles on disease severity. HLA-DRBI alleles and sub-typing of DRBI*04 and *01 were determined in 90 patients and 100 healthy controls, by PCR-SSP. HLA-DRB1*04 was significantly higher in patients (51.1%) than in controls (27%) [OR=2.83, p=0.00066]. DRBJ*0405 was found to be the unique DR4 allele associated with RA (28.88% vs 6%) [OR=6.36, p=0.000059]. A significant decrease in the frequency of HLA-DRB1*0701 was observed in RA patients (16.66%) compared to controls (36%) [p=0.0026]. However, the frequency of patients carrying the shared epitope (SE) QRRAA, was slightly increased compared with controls (37.8% vs 23%) [OR=2.03, p=0.039]. We found that the presence of rheumatoid factor, HLA-DR4 and HLA-DRBI*0405 were not significantly associated with bone erosions or the presence of extra-joint involvement. In our population, the SE (QRRAA) expressed in DRBI*04 alleles is related to the susceptibility to RA but it is not involved in RA severity in Tunisia, while DRBI*0701 might protect against this disease.

• Authors: T Dhaouadi, I Sfar, L Abdelmoula, R Bardi, S Jendoubi-Ayed, M Makhlouf, H Aouadi, T Ben Abdallah, R Zouari, K Ayed, Y Lakhoua-Gorgi
• Journal: Archives de l'Institut Pasteur de Tunis (Arch Inst Pasteur Tunis) Vol. 87 Issue 1-2 Pg. 53-9 ( 2010) ISSN: 0020-2509 [Print] Tunisia
• PMID: 21598828 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• HLA-DR Antigens
• HLA-DRB1 Chains
• HLA-DRB1*04:05 antigen

Topics

• Adult
• Alleles
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Arthritis, Rheumatoid (genetics)
• Female
• HLA-DR Antigens (genetics)
• HLA-DRB1 Chains
• Humans
• Male
• Tunisia