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Amerindian ancestry in Argentina is associated with increased risk for systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Previous studies have demonstrated that in admixed populations, West African ancestry is associated with an increased prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the current study, the effect of Amerindian ancestry in SLE was examined in an admixed population in Argentina. The Argentine population is predominantly European with approximately 20% Amerindian admixture, and a very small (<2%) contribution from West Africa. The results indicate that Amerindian admixture in this population is associated with a substantial increase in SLE susceptibility risk (Odds Ratio=7.94, P=0.00006). This difference was not due to known demographic factors, including site of collection, age and gender. In addition, there were trends towards significance for Amerindian ancestry influencing renal disease, age of onset and anti-SSA antibodies. These studies suggest that populations with Amerindian admixture, like those with West African admixture, should be considered in future studies to identify additional allelic variants that predispose to SLE.

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Acknowledgements

The genome-wide scan was financed by MerckSerono Inc. (former Serono Genetics Institute). This study was supported by NIH Grant AR050267, the Swedish Research Council, the King Gustaf V Jubilee Fund (är det 80-årsfonden eller jubileumsfonden), the Swedish Association against Rheumatism, the Marcus Borgström Foundation, the Torsten and Ragnar Söderberg Foundation and a Swedish International Development Agency grant. MEAR is supported by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation through the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. We thank Adriana I Scollo, Armando M Perichon and Mariano CR Tenaglia (CEDIM, Diagnóstico Molecular y Forense SRL, Rosario, Argentina) for their help in preparing the Argentinean samples.

Other participants from Argentina were: Dr Juan C Marcos and Dr Ana I Marcos (Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos General San Martín, La Plata); Dr Jorge A Lopez and Dr Estela L Motta (Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Interzonal General de Agudos ‘Dr Oscar Alende’, Mar del Plata); Dr José L Presas (Hospital General de Agudos Dr Juán A Fernandez, Buenos Aires); Dr Guillermo Tate (Organización Médica de Investigación, Buenos Aires); Dr Susana Roverano and Dr Carlos Louteiro (Hospital José M Cullen, Santa Fe); Dr Fernando A Ramos and Dr Sandra Navarro (Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Provincial de Rosario, Rosario); Dr Alicia Eimon (Centro de Educación Médica e Investigaciones Clínicas (CEMIC), Buenos Aires); Dr Sandra Buliubasich and Dr Emilia Menso (Servicio de Reumatología de la UHMI 1, Hospital Nacional de Clínicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba); Dr Alejandro Alvarellos, Dr Francisco Caeiro and Dr Ana Bertoli (Servicio de Reumatología, Hospital Privado, Centro Medico de Córdoba, Córdoba); Dr Cesar Caprarulo and Dr Griselda Buchanan (Hospital Felipe Heras, Concordia); Dr Estela Bertero (Hospital San Martín, Paraná, Entre Ríos); Dr Sebastian Grimaudo and Dr Jorge A Manni (Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas ‘Alfredo Lanari’, Buenos Aires); Dr Marisa Jorfen and Dr Elisa J Romero (Servicio de Reumatología Hospital Escuela Eva Perón. Granadero Baigorria, Rosario); Dr Mariela Bearzotti (Facultad de Ciencias Medicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario y Hospital Provincial del Centenario, Rosario); Dr Enrique R Soriano and Dr Carlos D Santos (Sección Reumatología, Servicio de Clínica Medica, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires y Fundación Dr Pedro M Catoggio para el Progreso de la Reumatología, Buenos Aires); and Dr Carlos A Battagliotti (Sanatorio Parque, Rosario). Bernardo Pons-Estel is the coordinator of the Argentine Collaborative Group.

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Correspondence to M E Alarcon-Riquelme.

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Supplementary Information accompanies the paper on Genes and Immunity website (http://www.nature.com/gene)

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Seldin, M., Qi, L., Scherbarth, H. et al. Amerindian ancestry in Argentina is associated with increased risk for systemic lupus erythematosus. Genes Immun 9, 389–393 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/gene.2008.25

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