FCGR3B copy number variation is associated with susceptibility to systemic, but not organ-specific, autoimmunity

M Fanciulli, PJ Norsworthy, E Petretto, R Dong, Lorraine Harper, Lavanya Kamesh, Joanne King, Stephen Gough, A de Smith, AI Blakemore, P Froguel, CJ Owen, SH Pearce, L Teixeira, L Guillevin, DS Graham, CD Pusey, HT Cook, TJ Vyse, TJ Aitman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

362 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Naturally occurring variation in gene copy number is increasingly recognized as a heritable source of susceptibility to genetically complex diseases. Here we report strong association between FCGR3B copy number and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus (P = 2.7 x 10(-8)), microscopic polyangiitis (P = 2.9 x 10(-4)) and Wegener's granulomatosis in two independent cohorts from the UK (P = 3 x 10(-3)) and France (P = 1.1 x 10(-4)). We did not observe this association in the organ-specific Graves' disease or Addison's disease. Our findings suggest that low FCGR3B copy number, and in particular complete FCGR3B deficiency, has a key role in the development of systemic autoimmunity.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)721-723
Number of pages3
JournalNature Genetics
Volume39
Issue number6
Early online date21 May 2007
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2007

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