HLA-DQ8 and the HLA-DQ8-DR4 haplotype are positively associated with the hevein-specific IgE immune response in health care workers with latex allergy.
BACKGROUND
Hevein is one of the most important latex allergens affecting health care workers (HCWs).


OBJECTIVE
Because the genetically determined susceptibility is one important factor regulating type I allergy, the association between the hevein-specific IgE immune response and HLA class II alleles of DQB1 and DRB1, DRB3, DRB4, and DRB5 was studied.


METHODS
The distribution of HLA-DQB1 and DRB1, DRB3, DRB4, and DRB5 in 269 HCWs with latex allergy, 56 latex-sensitized patients with spina bifida (SB), and 90 nonatopic control subjects under special consideration for hevein-specific IgE was examined.


RESULTS
Seventy percent (189/269) of the HCWs with latex allergy and 39% (22/56) of the latex-sensitized patients with SB had increased hevein-specific IgE antibody concentrations (>0.35 kU/L). HLA data analysis revealed significantly increased phenotype frequencies for DQB1*0302 (DQ8; 91/189 [48%]) and DRB1*04 (DR4; 102/189 [54%]) in hevein-positive HCWs with latex allergy compared with the 80 hevein-negative HCWs with latex allergy (DQB1*0302: 16/80 [20%], corrected P value [P (c)] = 7.1 x 10(-4); DRB1*04: 23/80 [29%], P (c) =.01) and with control subjects (DQB1*0302: 16/89 [18%], P (c) = 1 x 10(-4); DRB1*04: 22/90 [24%], P (c) = 3.2 x 10(-4)). The DQ8-DR4 haplotype frequency was significantly elevated in HCWs with hevein-specific IgE antibodies when compared with that in HCWs without hevein-specific IgE antibodies (47% vs 18%, P (c) = 5.3 x 10(-4)) or control subjects (47% vs 18%, P (c) = 9.6 x 10(-4)). In contrast, latex-sensitized patients with SB with hevein-specific IgE antibodies showed an increased but not significant DQB1*0302 frequency (7/22 [32%] vs 2/34 [6%], P =.02, P (c) = not significant) compared with that seen in those without hevein-specific IgE antibodies.


CONCLUSIONS
The DQB1*0302 (DQ8) alone, the DQB1*0302 (DQ8)-DRB1*04 (DR4) haplotype, or both are significantly involved in the hevein-specific IgE immune response in HCWs with latex allergy.
Research Institute for Occupational Medicine of the Berufsgenossenschaften (BGFA), Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany.
Hans-Peter
HP
Rihs
Zhiping
Z
Chen
Franziska
F
Ruëff
Reinhold
R
Cremer
Monika
M
Raulf-Heimsoth
Xaver
X
Baur
Denise Anne
DA
Moneret-Vautrin
Thomas
T
Brüning
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006239:Haplotypes; D006282:Health Personnel; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D020315:Latex Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D037102:Lectins / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000150:complications
D000485:Allergens; D052179:Antigens, Plant; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C109756:HLA-DQ8 antigen; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015804:HLA-DR4 Antigen; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; C098306:Hev b 1 protein, Hevea brasiliensis; D037102:Lectins; D037121:Plant Lectins; D010940:Plant Proteins; C045875:hevein; D007073:Immunoglobulin E