HLA-DRB1 and multiple sclerosis in Argentina.
BACKGROUND
The association of multiple sclerosis (MS) with HLA DR subtypes, and particularly human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1*15 has been a consistent finding across nearly all Caucasian MS populations. In South America, scarce data exist about this issue. As the complete characterization of the HLA association range around the world is important to understand the role of this locus in MS susceptibility, we analyzed the frequency of HLA-DRB1* allelic groups in an MS population in Argentina.


METHODS
HLA-DRB1 locus was genotyped using PCR and sequence-specific primer amplification in 61 MS patients born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and 1216 healthy controls. Allele frequencies were compared between groups.


RESULTS
The HLA-DRB1*15 allele frequency significantly differed between controls and patients (13.5% and 33.9% respectively, P < 0.001, OR 2.51, 95% CI: 1.7-3.0). The other allele frequencies did not show significant differences between patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
The present HLA class II population study is in accordance with other Caucasian MS surveys which have found that HLA-DRB1*15 allele is strongly associated with MS disease. In Argentina, this is the first study performed to analyze the association of HLA-DRB1*15 and MS susceptibility in a Caucasian population and therefore contributes with new data to the immunogenomic global MS map.
MS Section, Hospital Italiano Buenos Aires, Argentina.
L
L
Patrucco
J
J
Larriba
M A
MA
Redal
J I
JI
Rojas
P F
PF
Argibay
E
E
Cristiano
D001118:Argentina; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains