HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by EBRINGER, A. Articles by WILSON, C. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by EBRINGER, A. Articles by WILSON, C. Agricola Articles by EBRINGER, A. Articles by WILSON, C.

HLA molecules, bacteria and autoimmunity

Division of Life Sciences, Infection and Immunity Group, King's College, 150 Stamford Street, London and *Department of Rheumatology, UCL School of Medicine, Middlesex Hospital, London

Corresponding author: Professor A. Ebringer.

Received 2 Jan. 1999; revised version accepted 18 Oct. 1999.

Abstract

It has been well established that many diseases are linked to HLA antigens. Two of the most interesting HLA associations may provide some insight into the pathogenesis of rheumatic inflammatory conditions. In ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 96% of patients possess HLA-B27, whilst the frequency of this marker in the general population is c. 8%. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), >90% of patients possess either HLA-DR1 or some subtypes of HLA-DR4, whilst the frequency of this marker in the general population is c. 35%. The association between HLA-B27 and reactive arthritis (ReA) has also been well established. Furthermore, it has been shown that ReA is triggered by infection via the gastrointestinal tract due to Yersinia, Salmonella or Campylobacter spp. and in the genitourinary tract due to chlamydia. In a similar way, microbiological and immunological studies have revealed an association between Klebsiella pneumoniae in AS and Proteus mirabilis in RA. This article reviews the possible pathological implications of the associations between HLA-B27, K. pneumoniae and AS, as well as HLA-DR1/DR4, P. mirabilis and RA.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. M. Newkirk, R. Goldbach-Mansky, B. W. Senior, J. Klippel, H. R. Schumacher Jr, and H. S. El-Gabalawy Elevated levels of IgM and IgA antibodies to Proteus mirabilis and IgM antibodies to Escherichia coli are associated with early rheumatoid factor (RF)-positive rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatology, November 1, 2005; 44(11): 1433 - 1441. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T Bardos, Z Szabo, M Czipri, C Vermes, M Tunyogi-Csapo, R M Urban, K Mikecz, and T T Glant A longitudinal study on an autoimmune murine model of ankylosing spondylitis Ann Rheum Dis, July 1, 2005; 64(7): 981 - 987. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Ebringer, L. Hughes, T. Rashid, and C. Wilson Acinetobacter Immune Responses in Multiple Sclerosis: Etiopathogenetic Role and Its Possible Use as a Diagnostic Marker Arch Neurol, January 1, 2005; 62(1): 33 - 36. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M Ikbal, N Ezirmik, T Tos, and I Pirim Association of sister chromatid exchange frequencies in patients with ankylosing spondylitis with and without HLA-B27 Ann Rheum Dis, August 1, 2003; 62(8): 775 - 777. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Khan Update on Spondyloarthropathies Ann Intern Med, June 18, 2002; 136(12): 896 - 907. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]