@article{1308,
  keywords = {Alleles, Base Sequence, DNA Primers, Female, Genes, MHC Class I, Genetic Variation, Haplotypes, Histocompatibility Antigens Class I, Humans, India, leprosy, Linkage Disequilibrium, Male, Microsatellite Repeats, Polymorphism, Genetic},
  author = {Tosh K and Ravikumar M and Bell JT and Meisner S and Hill A and Pitchappan R},
  title = {Variation in MICA and MICB genes and enhanced susceptibility to paucibacillary leprosy in South India.},
  abstract = {<p>In a study of mainly paucibacillary leprosy-affected sib-pair families from South India, in addition to the expected associations with the HLA-DRB1 locus, we have identified significant association with a functional variant of the MICA gene as well as a microsatellite in the flanking region of the MICB gene. The associations with MICA and MICB cannot be accounted for by linkage disequilibrium with the HLA class II locus indicating a role in genetic susceptibility to leprosy that is independent of HLA-DRB1. Previous studies have shown that MICA and MICB are expressed on the surface of cells in response to infection, where they are recognized by the NKG2D receptor on gammadelta T cells, CD8+ alphabeta T cells and natural killer cells, all of which contribute to defense against mycobacteria. The MICA*5A5.1 allele, associated here with leprosy susceptibility, encodes a protein lacking a cytoplasmic tail providing a possible mechanism for defective immune surveillance against mycobacteria.</p>},
  year = {2006},
  journal = {Human molecular genetics},
  volume = {15},
  pages = {2880-7},
  month = {2006 Oct 01},
  issn = {0964-6906},
  url = {http://hmg.oxfordjournals.org/content/15/19/2880.full.pdf+html?sid=de3dbd9d-0ff5-4cf6-98cd-b9bfdc8cfdca},
  doi = {10.1093/hmg/ddl229},
  language = {eng},
}