Microsatellite genotyping of chromosome 14q13.2-14q13 in the vicinity of proteasomal gene PSMA6 and association with Graves' disease in the Latvian population.

The 270-kb chromosome 14q13.2-14q13 region harboring the proteasomal alpha subunit 6 gene PSMA6 was analyzed for polymorphism of five microsatellite repeats in cases/controls and association with Graves' disease. Four novel microsatellite markers were localized to the 14q13.

Two HLA DRB 1 alleles confer independent genetic susceptibility to Graves disease: relevance of cross-population studies.

Recent studies of Graves disease (GD) employing genome scanning techniques excluded the major histocompatibility complex as a contributor to disease liability. These findings contradict earlier population association studies. Our own earlier studies have also emphasized that genetic variation in human populations may give novel clues to disease liability and manifestations.