HLA class II alleles and multiple sclerosis in Tunisian patients.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of our study was to investigate the association of HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 alleles with multiple sclerosis (MS) in a Tunisian population and their effect on age at onset and disease severity.

METHODS:

58 MS patients and 105 healthy controls were genotyped for HLA class II alleles by PCR-SSP technique.

RESULTS:

An association of MS with HLA-DRB1*15 was found (14.7% vs 3.8%, OR (95% CI)=4.34 (1.69-11.39), p(c)=2.5×10(-3)) after Bonferroni's correction. Moreover, the DRB1*15-DQB1*06 (13.8% vs 2.8%, OR (95% CI)=5.44 (1.92-17.41), p(c)=1.1×10(-3)) and DRB1*04-DQB1*04 (8.6% vs 1.9%, OR (95% CI)=4.86 (1.36-21.62), p(c)=0.028) haplotypes were found to confer a susceptibility to multiple sclerosis.

CONCLUSION:

To our knowledge, this is the first study performed to analyze the association of HLA-DRB1/DQB1 alleles on MS susceptibility in Tunisia. The modern Tunisian gene pool shows some degree of heterogeneity and reflects a significant gene flow from Mediterranean regions.

• Authors: Amira Messadi, Fekih-Mrissa Najiba, Slah Ouerhani, Jemel Zaweli, Ines Louatti, Sami Layouni, Brahim Nciri, Ghaya Bouaicha, Wafa Kouki, Mondher Yedeas, Aly Raies, Ridha Mrissa, Nasreddine Gritli
• Journal: Clinical neurology and neurosurgery (Clin Neurol Neurosurg) Vol. 112 Issue 10 Pg. 849-52 (Dec 2010) ISSN: 1872-6968 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 20691532 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• HLA-DQ Antigens
• HLA-DQ beta-Chains
• HLA-DQB1 antigen
• HLA-DR Antigens
• HLA-DRB1 Chains
• HLA-DRB1*15 antigen

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Age of Onset
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Gene Frequency
• Genes, MHC Class II (genetics)
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• HLA-DQ Antigens (genetics)
• HLA-DQ beta-Chains
• HLA-DR Antigens (genetics)
• HLA-DRB1 Chains
• Haplotypes
• Histocompatibility Testing
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Multiple Sclerosis (epidemiology, genetics, pathology)
• Tunisia (epidemiology)
• Young Adult