-2), where we further identified a five-marker haplotype (rs12141731-rs2949655-rs16859085-rs12144621-rs858554; G-G-A-G-A; Phap = 2.12 × 10-5) that exceeded the most associated single SNP rs858554 (minor allele frequency in controls=13%; P=4.99 × 10-4, odds ratio=1.32) in significance. Imputation and subsequent association analysis showed evidence of association (P<0.05) at 27 additional SNPs within intron 1. Cross-ethnic meta-analysis, assuming an additive genetic model adjusted for population proportions, showed five SNPs with significant P-values (1.40 × 10-3
-2), with one (rs704848) remaining significant after Bonferroni correction (Pmeta =2.66 × 10-2). Our study independently confirms and extends the association of SLE with CD247, which is shared by various autoimmune disorders and supports a common T-cell-mediated mechanism.