B7-CREG and ankylosing spondylitis

Area of Science:

• Immunogenetics
• Rheumatology
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Reiter's syndrome are associated with HLA-B27.
• The role of other Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) alleles in HLA-B27 negative patients remains unclear.
• Previous studies suggested an association between HLA B7-Complement Regulatory Enhancer Complex (CREG) antigens and HLA-B27 negative Caucasian AS patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the distribution of HLA alleles in Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) B27 negative patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) and Reiter's syndrome.
• To investigate the association of B7-CREG antigens in HLA-B27 negative AS patients across different racial groups.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on HLA allele distribution in HLA-B27 negative AS and Reiter's syndrome patients.
• Analysis of reported incidences of B7-CREG antigens (including B7, B22, B40) in different racial cohorts.

Main Results:

• The study could not confirm the increased incidence of B7-CREG antigens in HLA-B27 negative Caucasian AS patients as reported by some groups.
• An increased incidence of HLA-B7 was observed in HLA-B27 negative American Black patients with AS.
• Findings suggest potential racial variations in HLA associations.

Conclusions:

• The association between B7-CREG antigens and HLA-B27 negative Caucasian AS patients was not substantiated in this review.
• Further research with larger, diverse patient populations is required to clarify the role of B7-CREG antigens in HLA-B27 negative AS.
• HLA-B7 may have a specific association in HLA-B27 negative American Black patients with AS.