Purpose: Polymorphisms of the NACHT [neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP), CIITA, HET-E, TP1] and leucine-rich repeat protein 1 (NLRP1) gene are reported to be associated with susceptibility to vitiligo and several autoimmune diseases. Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH) disease is an autoimmune disorder affecting melanocytes in the skin, eyes, inner ear, and meninges. In this study, genetic associations between VKH disease and single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) surrounding the NLRP1 gene were investigated.
Methods: Six SNPs (rs6502867, rs925597, rs3926687, rs2733359, rs878329, and rs4790796) near the NLRP1 gene, including noncoding regions, were sequenced by a direct method to genotype 167 Japanese patients with VKH disease and 187 healthy Japanese volunteers.
Results: None of the six SNPs in the NLRP1 region were significantly associated with disease susceptibility or the ocular, neurological, and dermatological manifestations of VKH.
Conclusions: Although skin manifestations are clinically similar between vitiligo and VKH disease, the genetic and immunological mechanisms of these two diseases may be different.
© Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2011.