HSP70-1 PROMOTER REGION ALLELES AND SUSCEPTIBILITY TO RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

The distribution of HSP70-1 promoter alleles was studied in 90 adult C aucasian RA patients (65 European and 25 Asian Indian) and 113 normal controls (60 European and 53 Asian Indian). The HSP70-1 promoter allel es were defined by oligonucleotide typing of polymerase chain (PCR)-am plified genomic DNA. The prevalence of HSP70-1 promoter allele ''B'' w as significantly (p < 0.0004, pc <0.0012; RR = 5.1) higher in RA patie nts (22.2%) compared to normal controls (5.3%). It is likely therefore that HSP70-1 promoter allele B is associated with susceptibility to R A.