Sequence analysis of ATA + SSc associated HLA-DR alleles (HLA-DRB1*11:01, *11:04, *08:02, *08:04, and*15:02), which were inherited by 3 of the 6 patients, revealed two strongly conserved motifs in the peptide-contact region of the DRβ-chain. This evidence concerns the gene HLA-DRB1 and systemic sclerosis.