Association of HLA-B and HLA-DR gene polymorphisms with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study in Yunnan Chinese Han population

Objectives To investigate the association between HLA-B and HLA-DR gene polymorphisms and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Yunnan Han population, China. Methods A total of 246 RA patients and 259 healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled. HLA-B/DR genotyping was performed using high-resolution reverse polymerase chain reaction sequence specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR-SSOP). and serum anti cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibody and serological indexes were detected. Results In RA patients, the allele frequencies of HLA-DRB1*04:05:01 , *04:10:01 , *10:01:02 and HLA-B*15:01:01G , *40:01:01G , *40:02:01G , and *54:01:01G were significantly higher than those in the HCs (OR > 1, all P < 0.05). Conversely, the frequencies of HLA-DRB1*07:01:01 , *14:01:01 , *15:01:01:01 and HLA-B*15:01:01 , *15:02:01 , and *38:02:01 alleles were decreased in RA group (OR < 1, all P < 0.05). Haplotype analysis showed that the combination of HLA-B*15:01/DRB1*09:01 , HLA-B*38:02/DRB1*08:03 and HLA-B*54:01/DRB1*04:05 was decreased in RA patients (OR < 1, all P < 0.05). Conclusions The susceptibility of RA in Yunnan Han population is closely related to HLA-B/DR specific alleles and haplotypes.