Expression of QK/QR/RRRAA or DERAA motifs at the third hypervariable region of HLA-DRB1 and disease severity in rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

HLA-DRB1 alleles appear to confer an important bidirectional influence on the risk of disease severity in RA, with 20-fold difference in OR between those associated with the highest (HLA-DRB1*0401) and lowest (HLA-DRB1*1301/02) risk. The HRE and LRE exhibit diametrically opposed effects, which may be mutually antagonistic. These data support a multistep pathogenesis in which MHC class II genes are one component of a coordinate genetic and environmental interaction leading to immunological injury and joint destruction.

Part of CIRS Nexus · Curated by Lauren Lowenstein, The Biotoxin Lady