T-cell receptor beta-subunit gene polymorphism and autoimmune disease.

We have investigated the distribution of genotypes of a restriction fragment length polymorphism of the T-cell receptor beta-subunit gene in Caucasoid controls and patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, and idiopathic membranous nephropathy and also in South Indian controls and diabetics. We found no significant differences between the controls and patients with any disease in either ethnic group, a result which contrasts with previous reports of associations with both insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and idiopathic membranous nephropathy. However, the most striking finding was a marked disparity between the genotype distribution in our Caucasoid control population and that previously reported by other investigators.