Lack of association between HLA-DRB1 alleles of the major histocompatibility complex and p-ANCA status or clinical characteristics in patients with ulcerative colitis.
BACKGROUND
An association between different HLA-subtypes and ulcerative colitis has been described in various study populations of different ethnic and geographic background. Moreover, a correlation between HLA-DR2 and ulcerative colitis, in particular p-ANCA-positive ulcerative colitis, was reported. Thus, the present study aimed on the correlation of HLA-DRB1* alleles with the presence of p-ANCA and clinical characteristics in individuals of southern german descent.


METHODS
The study population comprised 56 patients with ulcerative colitis and 177 healthy controls. HLA-DRB1* alleles were assessed by use of the dot blot method. Autoanti-bodies were visualized by indirect immunofluorescence on ethanol-fixed neutrophils.


RESULTS
The allele HLA-DRB1*12 was more frequent in patients with ulcerative colitis (p = 0.01). After correction for the number of alleles tested (n = 16) statistical significance was no longer preserved. A weak association between the presence of HLA-DR5 and the detection of p-ANCA in ulcerative colitis was found (p = 0.0375). After correction for the number of comparisons (n = 10) no associations between HLA-DR antigens and the presence of p-ANCA remained. Furthermore, no significant correlations between clinical characteristics of ulcerative colitis and HLA-DR antigens were detected.


CONCLUSIONS
Genes encoding for HLA-DR antigens are unlikely to have an impact on the heredity and the presence of disease phenotypes of ulcerative colitis in a study population of southern german descent.
Folwaczny
C
C
Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum Innenstadt, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, München.
Zahn
R
R
Brünnler
G
G
Albert
E
E
Koenig
A
A
Noehl
N
N
Loeschke
K
K
Fricke
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000235:genetics*; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D005787:Gene Frequency / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005858:Germany; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology; D012306:Risk
D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains