DQ4

From WikiMD's Food, Medicine & Wellness Encyclopedia

DQ4 is a HLA-DQ serotype that is used to identify the HLA-DQ4 gene product. It is a part of the HLA-DQ gene locus, which is a part of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) on chromosome 6. The HLA-DQ4 serotype is associated with several autoimmune diseases, including Type 1 diabetes, Celiac disease, and Rheumatoid arthritis.

Structure and Function[edit | edit source]

The HLA-DQ4 molecule is a heterodimer, consisting of an α-chain and a β-chain. The α-chain is encoded by the HLA-DQA1 gene, while the β-chain is encoded by the HLA-DQB1 gene. The molecule is expressed on the surface of antigen-presenting cells, where it presents peptides to CD4+ T cells.

Disease Associations[edit | edit source]

HLA-DQ4 has been associated with several autoimmune diseases. These include:

  • Type 1 diabetes: HLA-DQ4 is less common in individuals with type 1 diabetes, suggesting a protective effect.
  • Celiac disease: HLA-DQ4 is not associated with celiac disease, unlike HLA-DQ2 and HLA-DQ8.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis: HLA-DQ4 is associated with a decreased risk of rheumatoid arthritis.

See Also[edit | edit source]

DQ4 Resources
Doctor showing form.jpg
Wiki.png

Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index‏‎ - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes

Search WikiMD


Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD

WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.

Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.

Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD