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Updated: Jun 11, 2026

Candidate Gene Testing in Clinical Cohort Studies with Multiplexed Genotyping and Mass Spectrometry
Published on: June 21, 2018
Copy number variations of the human histamine H4 receptor gene are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus
1Department of Dermatology, Shenzhen Hospital Peking University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China.
Background:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex genetic disease; the histamine H4 receptor (HRH4) has been shown to be related to different kinds of autoimmune disorders; and copy number variations (CNVs) have been found to be associated with various types of diseases.
Objectives:
To explore a possible association between HRH4 (formerly H4R) CNVs and the risk of SLE.
Methods:
Genomic DNA and RNA from 340 patients with SLE and 392 healthy controls were extracted, and CNVs and mRNA levels of HRH4 were examined.
Results:
The expression of HRH4 mRNA was significantly increased in patients with SLE compared with controls. Amplification of HRH4 copy numbers significantly increased the risk of SLE [P < 0·001, odds ratio (OR) 2·26, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·50-3·40]. HRH4 amplifications also positively correlated with the incidence of arthritis (P = 0·019, OR 1·96, 95% CI 1·11-3·47), and proteinuria (P < 0·001, OR 2·95, 95% CI 1·73-5·00) and antinuclear antibody abnormalities (P < 0·001, OR 2·97, 95% CI 1·66-5·33). Deletions of HRH4 copy numbers were protective against proteinuria (P = 0·03, OR 0·50, 95% CI 0·26-0·94).
Conclusion:
CNVs of the HRH4 gene are associated with SLE.
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