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Ann Rheum Dis 1998;57:366-370 doi:10.1136/ard.57.6.366
  • Extended reports

Immunoglobulin allotype gene polymorphisms in systemic sclerosis: interactive effect of MHC class II and KM genes on anticentromere antibody production

  1. Hideto Kamedaa,
  2. Janardan P Pandeyb,
  3. Junichi Kaburakia,
  4. Hidetoshi Inokoc,
  5. Masataka Kuwanaa
  1. aDivision of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan, bDepartment of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA, cDivision of Molecular Life Science, Department of Genetic Information, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
  1. Dr M Kuwana, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160–8582, Japan.
  • Accepted 18 May 1998

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To examine potential interactions between immunoglobulin (Ig)allotype gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to systemic sclerosis (SSc) as well as serological expression in SSc patients.

METHODS IgG heavy chain allotypes G1M(f, z), G2M(n+, n-), G3M(b, g) and Ig light chain allotype KM(1, (1, 2), 3) were genotyped in 105 Japanese SSc patients and 47 race matched normal controls using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based methods. Associations of each Ig allotype with SSc related antinuclear antibodies were examined in combination with or without MHC class II alleles.

RESULTS GM/KM genotypic and allelic frequencies were similar in SSc patients and in normal controls. Frequencies of G1M(f) and G2M(n+) were significantly decreased in anticentromere antibody (ACA) positive SSc patients compared with ACA negative SSc patients (p = 0.04 and 0.02, respectively). Conversely, the presence of DQB1*0501 and KM(1, 2) significantly increased the risk of ACA positivity.

CONCLUSION Ig allotype gene polymorphisms were not associated with susceptibility to SSc. Instead, the results suggested that MHC class II and KM genes are associated with autoimmune responses by interactively promoting the production of ACA.

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