OBJECTIVE Although the products of the HLA subtypes B*2705 and B*2709 differ only in residue 116 (Asp versus His) within their peptide-binding grooves, they are differentially associated with inflammatory rheumatic diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS): B*2705 occurs in AS patients, whereas B*2709 is only rarely encountered. The reasons for this distinct association are still unclear but...

The Human Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) plays a crucial role in transplantation, transfusion, paternity test and assessment of susceptibility to some diseases associated with HLA-B27. Three of the most fashionable methods for determination of HLA antigens in clinical and research laboratories are microlymphocytotoxicity (MLCT), flowcytometry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). T...

The HLA-B27 molecule is one of the most fascinating in medicine. Its contribution to the aetiopathogenesis of SpA and other diseases, and its protective action in certain infections, continue to challenge our understanding of its immunobiology and physiological roles. Animal studies have helped to cast light on ways in which HLA-B27 exerts its effects. Subtle variations in structure and behavio...

The association between HLA-B27 and spondylarthropathies is currently being reinvestigated in the light of HLA-B27 subtyping. At least 11 different subtypes have been described among which B*2703, B*2706, and B*2709 could be less closely associated with disease at the population level. Differences in the presentation of antigenic peptides by these subtypes could be related to differences in dis...

OBJECTIVE In B27 transgenic rats, susceptibility to the development of a spondyloarthropathy-like disease has been shown to correlate with the level of B27 transgene expression on lymphoid cells. The aim of this work was to study HLA-B27 molecule expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and from normal controls (NC). METHODS Twent...

the human major histocompatibility complex (mhc) plays a crucial role in transplantation, transfusion, paternity test and assessment of susceptibility to some diseases associated with hla-b27. three of the most fashionable methods for determination of hla antigens in clinical and research laboratories are microlymphocytotoxicity (mlct), flowcytometry and polymerase chain reaction (pcr). the pur...

■ Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) accounts for 90% of all uveitis cases seen by the general ophthalmologist. ■ About half of all AAU cases are HLA-B27associated. ■ HLA-B27+ AAU represents a distinct clinical entity with important ocular and extraocular consequences. ■ The typical ocular phenotype of HLA-B27+ AAU is that of acute onset, unilateral inflammation of the iris and ciliary body, with a t...

■ Acute anterior uveitis (AAU) accounts for 90% of all uveitis cases seen by the general ophthalmologist. ■ About half of all AAU cases are HLA-B27associated. ■ HLA-B27+ AAU represents a distinct clinical entity with important ocular and extraocular consequences. ■ The typical ocular phenotype of HLA-B27+ AAU is that of acute onset, unilateral inflammation of the iris and ciliary body, with a t...