The genetic makeup of an individual strongly influences the risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The identification of genes that predispose an individual to SLE will lead to earlier and better diagnosis, better treatments, and possibly prevention.

To this end, the International Consortium on the Genetics of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLEGEN) was formed in 2005 and is composed of lupus researchers who agreed to pool their knowledge and resources to search for genes that predispose to lupus. Eight laboratories contributed DNA samples for genotyping at the Broad Institute and association with SLE was performed by the Data Coordinating Center (Wake Forest University), as part of a four stage study design. Stages one and two of this design were graciously funded by the Alliance for Lupus Research (www.lupusresearch.org). In this stage of the study, approximately 767 SLE patients (cases) were compared to approximately 383 non-SLE patients (controls) for differences among ... (Show More)

The genetic makeup of an individual strongly influences the risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The identification of genes that predispose an individual to SLE will lead to earlier and better diagnosis, better treatments, and possibly prevention.

To this end, the International Consortium on the Genetics of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLEGEN) was formed in 2005 and is composed of lupus researchers who agreed to pool their knowledge and resources to search for genes that predispose to lupus. Eight laboratories contributed DNA samples for genotyping at the Broad Institute and association with SLE was performed by the Data Coordinating Center (Wake Forest University), as part of a four stage study design. Stages one and two of this design were graciously funded by the Alliance for Lupus Research (www.lupusresearch.org). In this stage of the study, approximately 767 SLE patients (cases) were compared to approximately 383 non-SLE patients (controls) for differences among the Illumina HumanHap300. The affected individuals are all females of European decent. 82% of the cases are the index case from multiplex pedigrees for SLE and the remaining 18% have self-reported first degree relatives with SLE. A detailed summary of the methods and results can be found in the manuscript in Nature Genetics February 2008 by SLEGEN "Genome-wide association scan in women with systemic lupus erythematosus identifies susceptibility variants ITGAM, PXK, KIAA1542 and other loci". (Please see also Study Accession: phs000202.v1.p1)