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Evaluation of the BCL-2 gene locus as a susceptibility locus linked to the clinical expression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

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Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterised by the production of a large number of autoantibodies. It has been postulated that this may be the result of prolonged longevity of auto-reactive B cells due to defective regulation of programmed cell death (apoptosis). The proto-oncogenebcl-2 is involved in the control of apoptosis in immunocompetent cells, and its over-expression is noted in T and B cells from SLE patients. This study examined the genetic linkage between thebcl-2 gene locus and SLE susceptibility using the affected sib-pair method in SLE families. Seventeen caucasian multiplex families were evaluated. A polymorphic microsatellite marker closely linked to thebcl-2 gene on 18g21.3 was used to determine thebcl-2 genotype. We demonstrated that haplotype sharing among the affected sibling pairs was not statistically different from random (P>0.5). This suggests that thebcl-2 gene locus does not confer a genetic susceptibility to SLE expression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, Australia

    Q. R. Huang, D. Morris & N. Manolios

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  1. Q. R. Huang
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  2. D. Morris
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  3. N. Manolios
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Correspondence to N. Manolios.

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Huang, Q.R., Morris, D. & Manolios, N. Evaluation of the BCL-2 gene locus as a susceptibility locus linked to the clinical expression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Rheumatol Int 16, 121–124 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01409984

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01409984

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