DQB1*0602 allele shows a strong association with multiple sclerosis in patients in Malaga, Spain.
BACKGROUND
The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II DR2 haplotype (DRB1*1501, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0602) has been associated with multiple sclerosis (MS) in all ethnic groups and very strongly in Caucasians.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possible HLA class II (DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1) associations with MS in Malaga, southern Spain.


METHODS
We analysed the HLA class II sub-regions DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe hybridization (PCR/SSO) for DRB1 and DQB1 and with sequence-specific primers (PCR/SSP) for DRB1 subtypes and DQA1. Possible HLA class II associations with clinical MS characteristics were investigated in 149 subjects with and 160 without MS.


RESULTS
Associations were detected between MS and the HLA class II alleles DRB1*1501 (45.6 % vs. 21.3%, p=0.001), DQA1*0102 (44% vs. 29.4%, p=0.001) and DQB1*0602 (45% vs. 20.6%, p=0.001). The DR2 haplotype (DRB1*1501, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0602) was associated with MS (43.6 % vs. 20%, p=0.002). DQB1*0602 was the only allele that maintained an association with MS in a logistic regression model. No HLA class II alleles or genotypes were significantly associated with any clinical characteristics of MS.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm the positive association of the DR2 haplotype with MS, particularly the allele DQB1*0602, in the population studied. DR4 was not associated with the disease in Malaga. HLA class II alleles or haplotypes were not associated with clinical or demographic characteristics, or clinical form or severity of MS.
Fernández
O
O
Dept. of Neurology, Hospital Regional Universitario Carlos Haya, Avda. Carlos Haya s/n, 29010 Malaga, Spain. oscar.fernandez.sspa.@juntadeandalucia.es
Fernández
V
V
Alonso
A
A
Caballero
A
A
Luque
G
G
Bravo
M
M
León
A
A
Mayorga
C
C
Leyva
L
L
de Ramón
E
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010641:Phenotype; D013030:Spain
D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins