Given the above-mentioned HLA-E characteristics, analysis of the potential influence of the HLA-B T leader peptide dimorphism failed to provide significant associations even though the HLA-B T leader peptide was predominantly found in non-responder patients suggesting an inefficient HLA-E-mediated NK cell inhibition with sustained inflammatory processes in this setting after AHSCT for SSc. Here, HLA-B is linked to systemic sclerosis.