Association of leprosy with HLA-DRB1 in an Argentinean population.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have suggested an influence of HLA molecules on the regulation of the anti Mycobacterium leprae immune response.


METHODS
DNA typing of HLA-DRB1 alleles in 71 leprosy patients and 81 healthy controls was performed. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and used as a template to amplify the polymorphic second exon of the HLA-DRB1 by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were hybridized separately with sequence-specific oligonucleotides.


RESULTS
DRB1*1401 and DRB1*1406 alleles were significantly more prevalent in leprosy patients, whereas a decreased frequency of DRB1*0808 and DRB1*1103 alleles was found, by comparison with the group control.


CONCLUSIONS
The HLA-DRB1 alleles could act alone or in combination with other genes to confer differential susceptibility and also protection to leprosy disease in endemic areas of the American continent.
Borrás
Silvia García
SG
Laboratorio de Inmunohematología e Inmunogenética, Departamento de Bioquímica Clínica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina.
Cotorruelo
Carlos
C
Racca
Liliana
L
Recarte
Mónica
M
Garcías
Celeste
C
Biondi
Claudia
C
Bottasso
Oscar
O
Racca
Amelia
A
D000483:Alleles; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains