Association of major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A and HLA-B alleles with Behcet's disease in Turkey

Abstract

Purpose: Behcet's disease (BD) is known to be associated with HLA-B*51 in many different ethnic groups. Recently, the major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene A (MICA), located near the HLA-B gene, has been proposed as a candidate gene for BD susceptibility in several ethnic groups. To compare the relative contribution of MICA polymorphisms and HLA-B*51 to BD in different ethnic groups, we studied MICA polymorphisms in Turkish BD patients.