title: HLA class II association with autoimmune hepatitis in Latin America: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic liver disease to which different Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) have been associated, according to the ethnic/geographical group affected, age of presentation, prognosis, and serologic profile.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify common HLA class II alleles contributing to susceptibility to AIH in Latin American population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study was held through a systematic review of the literature, followed by a meta-analysis of 694 cases and 1769 controls of all case-control studies that supplied enough information for odd ratio and 95% confidence interval calculation conducted to date in Latin America.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serological group DQ2 was found to be risk factor for AIH, while DR5 and DQ3 were found to be protective factors in this population. At the allelic level, DQB1*02, DQB1*0603, DRB1*0405, and DRB1*1301, were found to be risk factors, while DRB1*1302 and DQB1*0301 alleles were protective factors. The physicochemical similarities and differences of critical amino acids encoding the peptide binding groove at pockets P1, P4, and P6 of these HLA molecules, elucidates their influence in the development of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study strengthens the HLA component of AIH in Latin America and its relationship to other populations around the world.
authors.affiliation: Center for Autoimmune Disease Research (CREA), School of Medicine, Rosario University, Bogota, Colombia.
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duarte-Rey
authors.forename: Aryce L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Pardo
authors.forename: Yolima
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Velosa
authors.forename: Ruben D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Mantilla
authors.forename: Juan-Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Anaya
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rojas-Villarraga
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D019693:Hepatitis, Autoimmune / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II