A peculiar sequence motif in the alpha-1-domain of the HLA-C molecule in psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
Most immunogenetic studies restrict the location of the susceptibility gene for psoriasis to the HLA-C locus.


OBJECTIVE
The present study evaluates the amino acid sequences of the HLA-C binding groove associated with the disease in a restricted population of Italian descent: Pavia, Northern Italy.


METHODS
Forty patients, affected by psoriasis, underwent genomic analysis of exons 2 and 3 of the HLA-C gene by means of the PCR-SSP technique.


RESULTS
The HLA-C*0602 gene frequency was significantly higher in patients with respect to 122 sex-, age- and ethnically matched controls (25 vs. 8.6%, chi(2) = 14.65, p = 0.000129). This frequency rose to 39.5% in patients with a family history positive for psoriasis. In particular, 4 amino acid substitutions were shown to be crucial for the predisposition to the disease, namely Ala 73 and Asn 77 (located in the C pocket of the antigen binding groove), Lys 80 in the F pocket and Asp 90 in the outer loop of the molecule. This peculiar motif, entirely located in the alpha(1)-domain of the HLA-C molecule, was characteristic of psoriatic patients being present in 77.5% of the cases against the 50.82% of controls (chi(2) = 8.77; p = 0.0031). Homozygosity for the amino acids considered at these residues was found in 15% of patients and in 0% of controls (chi(2) = 20.74, p = 0.0000053).


CONCLUSIONS
The most important results emerging from this study indicate that Ala 73, Asn 77, Lys 80 and Asp 90 together form a motif restricted to few pathogenic peptides to be studied in the near future.
Brazzelli
V
V
Department of Human and Hereditary Pathology, Institute of Dermatology, Policlinico S. Matteo IRCCS, Pavia, Italy.
Quaglini
M
M
Martinetti
M
M
Nolli
G
G
Salvaneschi
L
L
Cuccia
M
M
Borroni
G
G
D017668:Age of Onset; D000483:Alleles; D020816:Amino Acid Motifs / Q000235:genetics; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
D015236:HLA-C Antigens