Association of HLA-DQ5 and HLA-DR1 with sensitization to organic acid anhydrides.
BACKGROUND
Organic acid anhydrides are low molecular weight industrial chemicals, able to cause rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma associated with specific IgE against hapten-carrier protein conjugate. Only a proportion of exposed workers develop IgE-associated allergy to acid anhydrides.


OBJECTIVE
We determined whether genetic susceptibility, in particular, HLA Class II alleles may be a risk factor.


METHODS
We undertook HLA typing in 52 cases who had confirmed specific IgE and in 73 referents matched on site, age and duration of acid anhydride exposure identified in cross-sectional studies of workers exposed to hexahydrophthalic (HHPA), methylhexahydrophthalic (MHHPA) and methyltetrahydrophthalic (MTHPA) anhydrides.


RESULTS
The linked alleles DQ5 (odds ratio [OR]=4.3; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]=1.7, 11) and DR1 (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.2, 11) were more prevalent in cases than in referents. Within DQ5, DQB1(*)0501 was particularly frequent (OR 3.0; 95% CI 1.2, 7.4).


CONCLUSIONS
DQB1(*)05 gene confers susceptibility to develop specific IgE antibodies against HHPA, MHHPA and a non-significant trend with MTHPA. DQB1(*)0501 is protective for other low molecular chemical sensitizers (isocyanates and plicatic acid) which may indicate varying affinities for the corresponding specific class II molecules.
Jones
M G
MG
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK. meinir.jones@ic.ac.uk
Nielsen
J
J
Welch
J
J
Harris
J
J
Welinder
H
H
Bensryd
I
I
Skerfving
S
S
Welsh
K
K
Venables
K M
KM
Taylor
A N
AN
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002617:Chemical Industry; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000009:adverse effects; D010795:Phthalic Acids / Q000009:adverse effects; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000276:immunology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D018570:Risk Assessment
D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D015798:HLA-DR1 Antigen; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D010795:Phthalic Acids; D010796:Phthalic Anhydrides; D007073:Immunoglobulin E