HLA-DPB2 and autoimmune disease: GWAS have linked the HLA-DPB2 locus with other multiple autoimmune diseases including systemic sclerosis,39 granulomatosis with polyangiitis,40 IgA nephropathy and asthma, as well as age at diagnosis for type 1 diabetes, which would also be consistent with it acting as a risk factor for development of autoimmune disease and as a potential disease severity marker.