title: HLA-A and -B phenotypes associated with tuberculosis in population from north-eastern Romania.
abstract: HLA antigens are involved in inducing either susceptibility or resistance to different diseases. Many studies reported various associations between HLA antigens and tuberculosis, depending on race, ethnic group and geographic area.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to identify HLA class I antigens inducing susceptibility to tuberculosis in population from North-Eastern Romania.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 50 tuberculosis patients and the control group included 90 healthy people. HLA-A and HLA-B antigens were determined using the CDC-NIH (complement-dependent-cytotoxicity-National Institute of Health) assay. A comparison was made between the frequency of HLA antigens expression in the two studied groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HLA-B18 and HLA-A29(19) were expressed more frequently in tuberculosis patients. The difference was statistically significant only for HLA-B18 antigen. HLA-B7 and -B61(40) antigens were expressed with statistically significant higher frequency in controls compared to tuberculosis patients. The frequency of other HLA-A and HLA-B antigens was either comparable in the two groups or without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS We found a positive association between HLA-B18 antigen and tuberculosis, while HLA-B7 and HLA-B61(40) antigens seem to protect against the disease.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy Gr. T. Popa Iaşi, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Immunology.
authors.forename: Venera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vasilca
authors.forename: Raluca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Oana
authors.forename: Dorina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Munteanu
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zugun
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Constantinescu
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carasevici
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012383:Romania; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens