Association analysis of the cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and autoimmune regulator-1 (AIRE-1) genes in sporadic autoimmune Addison's disease

J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2000 Feb;85(2):688-91. doi: 10.1210/jcem.85.2.6369.

Abstract

Although autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD) may occur as a component of the monogenic autoimmune polyendocrinopathy type 1 syndrome (APS1), it is most commonly found as an isolated disorder or associated with the autoimmune polyendocrinopathy type 2 syndrome (APS2). It is likely that sporadic (non-APS1) AAD is inherited as a complex trait; however, apart from the major histocompatibility complex, the susceptibility genes remain unknown. We have examined polymorphisms at two non-major histocompatibility complex candidate susceptibility loci in sporadic (non-APS1) AAD: the cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) gene and the autoimmune regulator (AIRE-1) gene. DNA samples from AAD subjects (n = 90) and local controls (n = 144 for CTLA-4; n = 576 for AIRE-1) were analyzed for the CTLA-4A/G polymorphism in exon 1 of the CTLA-4 gene and for the common mutant AIRE-1 allele (964de113) in United Kingdom subjects with APS1, by using the restriction enzymes Bst7II and BsrBI, respectively. There was an association of the G allele at CTLA-4A/G in AAD subjects (P = 0.008 vs. controls), which was stronger in subjects with AAD as a component of APS2 than in subjects with isolated AAD. In contrast, the mutant AIRE-1 964del13 allele was carried in one each of the 576 (0.2%) control subjects and the 90 (1.1%) AAD subjects as a heterozygote (P = 0.254, not significant), suggesting that this common AIRE-1 gene abnormality does not have a major role in sporadic (non-APS1) AAD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AIRE Protein
  • Abatacept
  • Addison Disease / genetics*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alleles
  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation / genetics*
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Immunoconjugates*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • Antigens, Differentiation
  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • CTLA4 protein, human
  • Immunoconjugates
  • Transcription Factors
  • Abatacept