Objective-To determine how polymorphism of transporter associated with
antigen processing 1 and 2 (TAP1 and 2) alleles contributed to the pa
thogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Japanese patients.
Methods-TAP1 and TAP2 typing was carried out in 52 Japanese patients
with SLE and 95 normal subjects by the PCR-RFLP (restriction fragment
length polymorphism) method. HLA-DR typing and HLA-DRB1(star)15 genoty
ping were carried out by the PCR method and PCR-SSCP (single stranded
DNA conformation polymorphism) method, respectively. Results-No partic
ular TAP 1 allele was associated with Japanese SLE or with immunologic
al subgroup of SLE. TAP2H showed a tendency towards increased frequenc
y in SLE (5.8% v 0% in control), but the corrected P value was not sig
nificant. No other particular association of TAP2 allele was observed.
Furthermore, these was no evidence for linkage disequilibrium between
any TAP1/TAP2 alleles and HLA-DRB1(star)1501-which is reported to be
weakly but significantly association with Japanese SLE-in either the n
ormal control or the SLE patient group.Conclusions-Neither the TAP1 no
r the TAP2 gene appears to determine disease susceptibility to SLE in
Japanese, and these results are in keeping with those reported in Cauc
asian SLE patients.