Protective role of the HLA-A*02 allele in Portuguese patients with multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) HLA-DRB1*15. Recent evidence that CD8 T cells are implicated in MS suggests that HLA class I may also contribute. An association of HLA-A*02 and A*03 alleles has been described.


OBJECTIVE
We examined the influence of HLA-A*02 and HLA-A*03 in Portuguese patients with MS, independently of HLA-DRB1*15 using a logistic regression model.


CONCLUSIONS
DRB1*15 increased the risk of developing MS and HLA-A*02 decreased the risk. A*03 had no effect. To analyze if HLA-A*02 association was independent from DRB1*15, an interaction between these two alleles was introduced in the model; no significant interaction was found.
Silva
A M
AM
Departamento de Neurologia, Centro Hospitalar do Porto-Hospital de Santo António, Porto, Portugal. anadmsilva@yahoo.com
Bettencourt
A
A
Pereira
C
C
Santos
E
E
Carvalho
C
C
Mendonça
D
D
Costa
P P
PP
Monteiro
L
L
Martins
B
B
D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010641:Phenotype; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
D015234:HLA-A Antigens; C524866:HLA-A*02 antigen; D015789:HLA-A2 Antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; C507799:HLA-DRB1*15 antigen