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Objective: To evaluate the possible relationship between HLA alleles and bony ankylosis of the spine (bamboo spine) in Taiwanese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: A small cohort of HLA-B27 positive AS patients was conducted to analyze the effects of alleles {and haplotypes} on the development of bamboo spine. DNA typing of HLA class I and class II genes were performed by SSP method on primary ankylosing spondylitis patients with bamboo spine (n = 84) and spinal enthesopathy controls (n = 228). Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and P value were estimated. Determination of the most probable HLA haplotypes on all patients were constructed by comparison of the alleles carried by each patient with the HLA haplotype database established in Taiwanese population studies using homozygosity approach [1] and by expectation-maximum algorithm [2]. Results: Allele frequencies of HLA A33, B58, Cw10, DR4, DR17 and DQ2 were significantly lower in bamboo patients as compared to non-bamboo controls. In contrast, allele frequencies of A24, B54, Cw15, DR11 and DR14 were significantly higher in bamboo patients. Less remarkably, high frequencies of B39, B51, Cw1 and Cw2 alleles were also noted in bamboo patients. Considering linkage disequilibria of alleles in haplotypes, HLA-A11-B27-Cw12 was the most common haplotype in both bamboo and non-bamboo groups (95.23% vs. 91.22%, respectively, P = 0.238). {Haplotypes A33-B58-Cw10, A33-B58-Cw10-DR13 and A33-B58-Cw10-DR17} were significantly lower in bamboo patients as compared to those in controls (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively). Conclusion: Haplotypes A33-B58-Cw10, A33-B58-Cw10-DR13 and A33-B58-Cw10-DR17 showed a strong association with bamboo spine in Taiwanese AS patients. Detection of such haplotypes might be a great aid in the management of patients with the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the possible relationship between HLA alleles and bony ankylosis of the spine (bamboo spine) in Taiwanese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS)., Methods: A small cohort of HLA-B27 positive AS patients was conducted to analyze the effects of alleles {and haplotypes} on the development of bamboo spine. DNA typing of HLA class I and class II genes were performed by SSP method on primary ankylosing spondylitis patients with bamboo spine (n = 84) and spinal enthesopathy controls (n = 228). Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and P value were estimated. Determination of the most probable HLA haplotypes on all patients were constructed by comparison of the alleles carried by each patient with the HLA haplotype database established in Taiwanese population studies using homozygosity approach [1] and by expectation-maximum algorithm [2]., Results: Allele frequencies of HLA A33, B58, Cw10, DR4, DR17 and DQ2 were significantly lower in bamboo patients as compared to non-bamboo controls. In contrast, allele frequencies of A24, B54, Cw15, DR11 and DR14 were significantly higher in bamboo patients. Less remarkably, high frequencies of B39, B51, Cw1 and Cw2 alleles were also noted in bamboo patients. Considering linkage disequilibria of alleles in haplotypes, HLA-A11-B27-Cw12 was the most common haplotype in both bamboo and non-bamboo groups (95.23% vs. 91.22%, respectively, P = 0.238). {Haplotypes A33-B58-Cw10, A33-B58-Cw10-DR13 and A33-B58-Cw10-DR17} were significantly lower in bamboo patients as compared to those in controls (P < 0.001, P = 0.001, P = 0.002, respectively)., Conclusion: Haplotypes A33-B58-Cw10, A33-B58-Cw10-DR13 and A33-B58-Cw10-DR17 showed a strong association with bamboo spine in Taiwanese AS patients. Detection of such haplotypes might be a great aid in the management of patients with the disease.

To investigate the effects of TNF-alpha -308, -238 promoter polymorphisms on TNF-alpha transcription in B27 positive Chinese patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The possible relationship between polymorphisms, MHC antigens, and quantitative TNF-alpha mRNA expression were evaluated. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPS) of TNF-alpha -308 and -238 were performed by PCR-amplification refractory mutation system method (PCR-ARMS) in sixty-seven B27-positive AS patients and 60 HLA-B27 positive healthy controls in Chinese. Quantitative measurement of TNF-alpha mRNA in peripheral blood mononuclear cells was performed with real time RT-PCR. The polymorphisms were correlated to quantitative TNF-alpha mRNA, and MHC antigens (determined by SSP method) in AS patients. The prevalence rate of both -308G/A and -238G/A TNF-alpha promoter polymorphisms in patients were not significantly different from those in normal subjects. However, a significant high LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha mRNA expression was found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with promoter -308G/A polymorphism (TNF2) as compared to those in -308G/G genotype (TNF1). Furthermore, -308G/A polymorphism in patients was found to be tightly associated with distinct haplotypes of A33/B58/Cw10 [12 out of 14 -308G/A patients (85.7%) versus none in 53 -308G/G patients], independent of B27 antigen. HLA-A33-B58-Cw10 haplotypes associated TNF-alpha promoter -308G/A polymorphism might play an important role in disease pathogenesis of AS in Chinese population, partially related to a driving force of a higher TNF-alpha production. It confirms once again the importance and complexity of MHC related molecules in disease pathogenesis of AS.