THYROPEROXIDASE MICROSATELLITE POLYMORPHISM IN THYROID-DISEASES

Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) cluster in families, although the n ature of this phenomenon is still poorly understood. One possible appr oach to the identification of genetic factors contributing to the path ogenesis of AITD is the study of association between polymorphic marke rs and AITD themselves, In the present study we have analyzed the alle lic distribution of sRA-1, a TPO tetranucleotide repeat, among patient s with AITD, in comparison with patients with nonautoimmune thyroid di seases and the general population. The polymorphic marker was analyzed by PCR followed by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide denaturant gel, Our data show that no association exists between AITD and any of sRA-1 alleles, despite the important role that TPO plays as a thyroid autoa ntigen.