Objective: To explore the association of HLA-DM gene with childhood systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Methods: DMA and DMB genes were genotyped by sequence-based typing(SBT)in 79 SLE patients at our hospital from 2003 to 2006 and 57 normal controls.
Results: The frequency of DMB*0101/0102 was lower significantly in SLE patients than that in controls (5.1% vs 21.1%). And the frequency of DMB*0102/0102 in SLE patients with renal involvement was higher than that in controls (17.6% vs 1.8%, P < 0.05). The frequency of all alleles and other genotypes had no significance in SLE patients, SLE patients with different organ involvements and controls.
Conclusion: As a protective gene, DMB*0102/0102 may be a susceptible allele for SLE patients with renal involvement.