HSP70 gene polymorphisms in ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract: Despite the strength of the association of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) with HLA‐B27, other genetic elements could play a possible role in the pathophysiology of AS. Because of the localization, in the proximity of the HLA‐B locus, and the involvement of heat shock proteins (HSP) in the immune response, we analyzed the influence of HSP70 gene polymorphism on the susceptibility to AS. HSP70‐1, HSP70‐2 and HSP70‐hom genotypes were analyzed by PCR‐RFLP in patients with AS and in healthy controls. The results obtained in the present study showed that there are not significant differences in the distribution of HSP70‐hom genotypes, whereas significant differences in HSP70‐1 and HSP70‐2 genotypes between AS patients and random controls were found. However, when the distribution of these genotypes were compared in B*27‐matched AS patients and controls, the differences disappeared. These data suggest that the polymorphism of HSP70 genes was not independently associated with AS, and that the differences in HSP70‐1 and HSP70‐2 genotypes among AS patients and controls appears to be due to the linkage disequilibrium between HSP70 alleles and HLA‐B*27.