title: HLA-A and -DRB4 genes in controlling the susceptibility to Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
abstract: HLA-linked genetic factors involved in the pathogenesis of HT were studied in 71 patients with HT by serologic typing for HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR, and -DQ specificities and by DNA typing for HLA-DRB1, -DRB3, -DRB4, -DRB5, -DQA1, -DQB1, AND -DPB1 genes using the PCR-SSOP method. Typing results demonstrated significant positive associations of HT with HLA-A2 and -DRB4*0101 (DR53) (p < 0.01, RR = 2.03, EF = 0.61 and p < 0.0001, RR = 4.48, EF = 0.69, respectively). Although HLA-DR8, -DRB1*0403, -DQA*03, and -DQB1*0303 were statistically more prevalent in the patient group than in the controls, these associations were presumably due to the strong linkage disequilibria of these alleles with HLA-A2 or -DRB4*0101 in the Japanese population. Ninety-seven percent of the patients (69 out of 71) were positive for HLA-A2 or -DRB4*0101 compared to 79% in controls (RR = 8.7, p < 0.0005). The combination of HLA-A2 and -DRB4*0101 showed higher OR of risk for HT (OR = 12.8) than HLA-A2 (OR = 7.3) or DRB4*0101 (OR = 7.5) alone. These observations suggest that at least two loci, HLA-A and HLA-DRB4 together, may control the susceptibility to HT. On the other hand, the frequency of DQA1*0102 was significantly decreased in the patient group, suggesting that DQA1*0102 might confer resistance to HT.
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: X L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Honda
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasazuki
mesh_terms: D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059845:HLA-DRB4 Chains; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013967:Thyroiditis, Autoimmune / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059845:HLA-DRB4 Chains