Can HLA typing predict the outcome of grass pollen immunotherapy?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between HLA molecules and the positive or negative response of atopic patients to specific immunotherapy (SIT).


METHODS
We studied 42 atopic multisensitive patients undergoing grass pollen immunotherapy, 42 parents of patients (30 mothers and 12 fathers) and 173 control individuals. HLA class I and class II antigens were typed by a microlymphocytotoxicity test. The typing of DRB1* alleles for atopic patients and their parents was based on the reverse hybridization principle, while for the control group, DNA-RFLP and PCR-SSP methods were used.


RESULTS
The frequency of B14 and DRB1*1101-4 antigens/alleles, as well as the A2B5DR11 haplotype, showed a statistically significant difference in those patients who responded to immunotherapy. On the other hand, HLA-A28, B8 and DRB1*0301 antigens/alleles, as well as the frequency of the A1B8 and A1B8DR3 haplotypes, were found to be significantly higher in patients who responded poorly to SIT.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the hypothesis that treatment responsiveness may show an association to HLA molecules, which could thus play a role in the immunological selection and monitoring of atopic patient candidacy for SIT.
Fleva
A
A
First Department of Internal Medicine, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Daniilidis
M
M
Sidiropoulos
J
J
Adam
K
K
Tourkantonis
A
A
Daniilidis
J
J
Hadzipetrou
L
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015803:HLA-DR3 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006239:Haplotypes; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015803:HLA-DR3 Antigen; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; C553502:HLA-DRB1*03:01 antigen