A new PCR-RFLP assay for -1123 G>C polymorphism in the PTPN22 gene: allele and genotype frequencies in a western Mexican population.

摘要

Autoimmune diseases affect up to 5percent of the population and are characterized by an aberrant immune response to self-antigens. The mechanisms of disease initiation and persistence are poorly understood, but genetic factors appear to play a major role (1). The main genetic influence on susceptibility to autoimmune diseases is the major histocompatibility complex, which is associated with many different diseases. Nevertheless, other loci contain genes that have a general immune function, and polymorphisms in these genes might predispose to susceptibility to autoimmunity (2).