Interaction of HLA-DRB1 Alleles with CTLA-4 in the Predisposition to Graves' Disease: The Impact of DRB1*07

Abstract

Our results stress the importance of complex gene interactions in the multigene predisposition to GD. The interactions between two predisposing loci, DRB1 and CTLA-4, are exerted rather by DRB1*07 than DRB1*03 allele: CTLA-4 acts via switching off the protective DRB1*07 influence, whereas the effect of DRB1*03 is independent.