HLA-B and ankylosing spondylitis: Regarding ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a highly heritable and common rheumatic condition, the authors concluded that HLA-B*27:05, HLA-B*27:03, and HLA-B*27:06 are protective alleles, while most of the HLA-B*27 and HLA-B*60 alleles are susceptible alleles.