RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 HLA-DRB1*15021 is the predominant allele in Japanese patients with juvenile dermatomyositis. JF The Journal of Rheumatology JO J Rheumatol FD The Journal of Rheumatology SP 1847 OP 1850 VO 31 IS 9 A1 Noriaki Tomono A1 Masaaki Mori A1 Shoko Nakajima A1 Takako Miyamae A1 Shuichi Ito A1 Toshihiro Mitsuda A1 Shumpei Yokota YR 2004 UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/31/9/1847.abstract AB OBJECTIVE: To investigate HLA molecules and genes in Japanese patients with juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). METHODS: Twelve patients (8 girls and 4 boys) with ages of onset between 3 and 15 years were included. HLA class I antigen phenotypes were serologically typed by the Terasaki-NIH standard method. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes using the phenol-chloroform extraction procedure, and stored at -70 degrees C until use. Genomic DNA for HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQA1, and HLA-DQB1 alleles in JDM patients and controls was determined by the direct sequence method. RESULTS: HLA-A24 and B52 were each detected in 7 cases (OR = 0.86, 5.02, p = 0.930, 0.006, respectively). HLA-DRB1*15021 was observed in 7 patients. This was significantly more frequent than occurred in the controls (OR = 5.72, p = 0.002). Seven patients out of 12 (58%) had the combination HLA-B52, DRB1*15021, DQA1*0103, and DQB1*0601. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the susceptibility gene for JDM either is HLA-DRB1*15021 or is present near the HLA-DRB1 locus. This differs from previous reports that describe the association with HLA-DQA1*0501 in Caucasian patients with JDM. The combination HLA-B52, DRB1*15021, DQA1*0103, and DQB1*0601 may contribute to the pathogenesis of JDM in Japanese patients.