Immunogenetic background of hepatitis B virus infection and autoimmune hepatitis in Japan.
Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-typing was studied in 82 hepatitis B carriers and 15 cases of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) to elucidate the genetic factors which may associated with the etio-pathogenesis of chronic hepatitis in Japan. There were two types of HLA phenotypes: HLA A2 was associated with the progression of the disease induced by HBV infection, and HLA A26 and DR5 were related to the retardation of the disease. A family study confirmed the strong association of these HLA phenotypes with the disease induced by HBV infection. In the analysis of AIH, HLA DR4 is a risk factor related to susceptibility of Japanese AIH which shows different clinical manifestations compared to HLA-DR3-positive AIH, dominantly observed in Western countries. These results suggest that genetic background as expressed by HLA, is an important factor in restricting the development of type B hepatitis and AIH, and can explain racial differences of disease susceptibility.
Zeniya
M
M
Department of Internal Medicine (I), Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Watanabe
F
F
Aizawa
Y
Y
Toda
G
G
D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype
D006680:HLA Antigens