OBJECTIVE: A genetic predisposition is widely accepted in schizophrenia. This study was intended to find any association of HLA-DRB1 alleles with Korean schizophrenics and thereby compare the results of other ethnic groups. METHODS: The subjects were 70 unrelated Korean patients. Low and high resolution typing of HLA-DRB1 alleles were performed. The comparison groups were 2,000 unrelated healthy Koreans for low resolution HLA-DR and 229 unrelated healthy Koreans for HLA-DRB1 alleles. RESULTS: Gene frequencies of HLA-DR11(patients 9.0%, healthy control 3.8%, p=0.005) and HLA-DRB1*1101(patients 9.0%, healthy control 1.8%, p< .001) were significantly higher in Korean schizophrenics. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of HLA-DR11 (HLA-DRB1*1101) is significantly higher in Korean schizophrenics than in healthy Koreans. HLA-DR4 and HLA-DR1, which were known to be associated with Caucasian and Japanese schizophrenics, respectively, did not show statistical association with Korean schizophrenics. This association need to be reassured through further studies with families or association study with larger numbers of subjects.
Alleles* ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Ethnic Groups ; Gene Frequency ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; HLA-DR Antigens ; HLA-DR1 Antigen ; HLA-DR4 Antigen ; HLA-DRB1 Chains* ; Humans ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of T cell responses to type II collagen (CII) in disease progression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: T cell proliferative responses to bovine CII by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from early RA patients (duration <5 years) were assayed by mixed lymphocyte culture. Clinical and laboratory variables including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C reactive protein (CRP) were examined at the time of sampling. Radiographic damage on hand X-rays was evaluated by the method of Steinbrocker and Sharp. RESULTS: In a cross-sectional study, patients (n=22) with positive T cell responses (stimulation index: SI>or =2) had higher levels of CRP and ESR than those (n=21) not showing T cell responses. The number of damaged joints (by Steinbrocker's method) and damaged joint scores (by Sharp's method) were significantly higher in patients with positive T cell responses than in those without. The joint space narrowing scores correlated well with T cell responsiveness to CII. Patients (n=15) with both positive T cell responses and RA-susceptible allotypes, HLA-DR1 or DR4, had greater damaged joint scores than the rest of patients (n=24). CONCLUSION: T cell proliferative responses to CII are associated with inflammatory activity and radiographic severity in RA. Our data suggest that CII reactive T cells may play an important role in the pathogenic process of joint damage.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid* ; Blood Sedimentation ; C-Reactive Protein ; Collagen Type II* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Disease Progression ; Hand ; HLA-DR1 Antigen ; Humans ; Joints* ; Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes