HLA-G gene polymorphisms associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis disease and its severity in Brazilian patients

We analyzed the possible association between human leukocyte antigen-G (HLA-G) genetic variants, supposed to regulate HLA-G expression, and the susceptibility to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as its clinical manifestations. The 5′upstream regulatory region (5′URR) and 3′untranslated region (3′UTR) regions of the HLA-G gene were screened in 127 RA patients and 128 controls: 10 5′URR and 3 3′UTR HLA-G polymorphisms as well as two haplotypes were associated with risk for RA development, while a polymorphism in the 5′URR showed an association with the degree of disease activity. These !ndings, although the number of cases analyzed is limited and the P-values are modest, indicate a possible association between HLA-G gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to develop RA disease and its severity.