HLA class II and T-cell receptor beta chain polymorphisms in Belgian patients with rheumatoid arthritis: no evidence for disease association with the TCRBC2, TCRBV8 and TCRBV11 polymorphisms.

OBJECTIVES--To investigate whether T-cell receptor (TCR) beta chain germline alleles, either alone or in combination with a particular HLA-genotype, are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS--Three restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), detected with TCR constant (TCRBC2) and variable (TCRBV8, TCRBV11) gene segments were analysed in a representative group of Belgian, HLA class II-typed patients with RA, and in a group of Belgian control subjects. RESULTS--The study confirmed the known association of RA with the HLA-DRB1*0401/0404 genotype (RR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.16-4.00... Mehr ...