Context: Genome-wide association studies have discovered various susceptibility alleles that are shared among different autoimmune conditions, implicating several biochemical pathways in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. A nonsynonymous polymorphism in exon 7 of the gene encoding the lymphocyte cell-surface CD226 (DNAM1) receptor, Gly307Ser (rs763361), has recently been identified as conferring risk to many autoimmune disorders. We performed a case-control study to determine if the CD226 307Ser variant is also associated with autoimmune Addison's disease (AAD). PATIENT AND DESIGN: We genotyped rs763361 in a UK cohort of 326 AAD subjects [183 with associated autoimmune conditions - autoimmune polyendocrinopathy syndrome type-2 (APS2)] and 311 healthy controls, using a Taqman genotyping assay.
Results: The susceptibility 'T' allele at rs763361 was found in 50·5% of patients with AAD compared to 46·5% of controls (P-value 0·16, OR 1·17; 95% CI 0·94-1·46). However, comparing the APS2 subgroup to healthy controls, the T allele was found in 53·8%vs 46·5% in controls (OR 1·34; CI 1·04-1·74, P-value 0·03). In contrast, the T allele frequency was 46·2% in isolated Addison's disease (P-value 0·94 vs healthy controls).
Conclusion: It seems likely that the 307Ser variant of the CD226 receptor is associated with APS2 because of its underlying association with type 1 diabetes and autoimmune thyroid disease. The strength of association in patients with isolated AAD appears to be weak or nonexistent compared to that in APS2.
© 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.