Lack of association of T cell receptor beta-chain constant region polymorphism with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in Finland

Abstract

SUMMARYAllelic polymorphism in the T cell receptor constant beta-chain gene region has been reported to be associated with autoimmune diseases, including insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), The present analysis of 164 children and adolescents with IDDM and 193 controls for Bqlll polymorphism using a TcR-CjS cDNA probe revealed two allelic restriction fragments with sizes of 10 5 kb (U) and 9 6 kb (L), No particular association was observed between the RFLP genotypes and IDDM (UU 27% versus3\"/o; UL 53% versus 52%; and LL 20% versus 17%, in diabetic subjects and controls, respectively), nor were any differences found between patients with various HLA risk antigens. The frequency of heterozygotes was 52% in 63 DR3-positive diabetic subjects and 53% in 73 DR3-negative ones. The results do not support any involvement ofthe TcR constant region genes in susceptibility to IDDM,