Human leukocyte antigen class II alleles in white Brazilian patients with celiac disease.
BACKGROUND
Celiac disease (CD) is a permanent gluten intolerance disorder characterized by malabsorption, intestinal mucosa villus atrophy, and crypt hyperplasia. Clinical and histologic features improve in persons consuming a gluten free diet. The pathogenesis of CD involves environmental, genetic, and immunologic factors.


METHODS
The frequencies of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles were evaluated in white Brazilian patients who had CD and compared with those observed in healthy individuals from the same geographical area (Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo) and of similar ethnic background. Twenty-five patients with CD, 11 females and 14 males, and 91 control individuals were studied. The HLA class II alleles were typed using amplified DNA hybridized with sequence-specific primers. Statistical analysis was performed using the two-tailed Fisher exact test. The relative risk (RR), etiologic fraction (EF), and preventive fraction (PF) were also estimated. The EF represents the attributable risk for the development of CD at the population level, whereas PF represents the protective risk.


RESULTS
The frequency of the HLA-DRB1*03, HLA-DRB1*07, and HLA-DQB1*02 alleles was significantly increased in patients. The RR conferred by these alleles was 5.35, 7.15, and 10.6, respectively, and the EF was 48.7%, 44.7%, and 76%, respectively. The frequency of HLA-DQB1*06 alleles was significantly decreased in CD patients, conferring an RR of 0.08 and a PF of 48%.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that HLA-DRB1*03, HLA-DRB1*07, and HLA-DQB1*02 alleles conferred susceptibility to CD in Brazilian patients. In contrast, HLADQB1*06 alleles conferred protection against development of the disease.
Silva
E M
EM
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
Fernandes
M I
MI
Galvão
L C
LC
Sawamura
R
R
Donadi
E A
EA
D000483:Alleles; D001938:Brazil; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002446:Celiac Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005808:Genes, Recessive; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics*
D006681:HLA-D Antigens