Immunogenetic markers for autoimmune diseases of the endocrine system

New immunogenetic markers are demonstrated for type 1 diabetes mellitus, Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. These markers are detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of HLA-D region genes and genes for the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). By analysing haplotypes transmitted to diabetic probands in families and comparing them with haplotypes that are only transmitted to healthy siblings it is shown that DQw8-DQB1 gene variation is important for susceptibility on DR4 haplotypes. Analysis of this DQw3 split in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis reveals that the other DQB1 gene variation, namely DQw7, displays the strongest association with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. This DQB1 variation has several implications for susceptibility and/or pathogenesis of both autoimmune endocrine diseases. Novel polymorphisms for TNF alpha are detected and it is shown that heterozygosity for TNF polymorphisms is significantly associated with type I diabetes and Graves' disease. Furthermore, DR4 haplotypes transmitted to diabetic probands possess significantly more the 10.5 Kb fragment in contrast to DR4 haplotypes transmitted only to healthy family members. This genetic polymorphism raises functional issues in susceptibility to autoimmune disease and can lead to a new explanation of the enigmatic HLA-association with a variety of diseases.