title: Low frequency of the disease-associated DRB1*15-DQB1*06 haplotype may contribute to the low prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Sami.
abstract: This study confirms a low frequency of multiple sclerosis (MS) among Sami. Only 12 Sami with a diagnosis of MS were identified in the Norwegian Sami population, which represents a significantly lower prevalence of MS in Sami (30/10(5)) compared with other Norwegians (73-164/10(5)). The clinical characteristics as well as the results of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and -DQB1 typing of the Sami MS patients are reported, showing that three (27%) of the Sami MS patients carried the MS-associated HLA-DRB1*15-DQB1*06 haplotype. Interestingly, the DRB1*15-DQB1*06 haplotype had a significantly reduced frequency among Sami controls (0.086) compared with non-Sami Norwegian controls (0.163) (P(corrected) = 0.015). The low frequency of the disease-associated DRB1*15-DQB1*06 haplotype in the Sami population may contribute to the low prevalence of MS in Sami, in addition to other yet unidentified genetic and environmental factors.
authors: Institute of Immunology, Faculty Division Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. h.f.harbo@medisin.uio.no
authors: H F
authors: HF
authors: Harbo
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Utsi
authors: A R
authors: AR
authors: Lorentzen
authors: M T
authors: MT
authors: Kampman
authors: E G
authors: EG
authors: Celius
authors: K-M
authors: KM
authors: Myhr
authors: B A
authors: BA
authors: Lie
authors: S I
authors: SI
authors: Mellgren
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Thorsby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics*; D009664:Norway; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; C507799:HLA-DRB1*15 antigen; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins