RESEARCH - Protection against RA by HLA: nature and nurture

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Ann Rheum Dis. 2008 Dec;67 Suppl 3:iii61-3.

Protection against rheumatoid arthritis by HLA: nature and nurture.

Feitsma AL, van der Helm-van Mil AH, Huizinga TW, de Vries RR, Toes RE.

Department of Rheumatology, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a complex genetic disorder in which the

HLA region contributes most to the genetic risk. HLA-DRB1 molecules

containing the amino acid sequence QKRAA/QRRAA/RRRAA (ie,

HLA-DRB1*0101, *0102, *0401, *0404, *0405, *0408, *0410, *1001 and

*1402) at position 70-74 in the third hypervariable region of the DRB1

chain are associated with susceptibility to RA. HLA-DRB1 molecules

containing the amino acids " DERAA " (ie, HLA-DRB1*0103, *0402, *1102,

*1103, *1301, *1302 and *1304) at the same position are associated

with protection from RA. Interestingly, not only inherited but also

non-inherited HLA-antigens from the mother can influence RA

susceptibility. A protective effect of " DERAA " -containing HLA-DRB1

alleles as non-inherited maternal antigen (NIMA) has recently been

described. The underlying mechanism of this protective effect is

currently unknown, although a possible explanation is covered below.

In this review, an overview of the current knowledge on protection

against RA is given and the inherited and NIMA effect of

" DERAA " -containing HLA-DRB1 alleles are compared.

PMID: 19022816

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19074911

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