title: Evidence for an association of HLA-DRB1*15 and DRB1*09 with leprosy and the impact of DRB1*09 on disease onset in a Chinese Han population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) have been proposed to modulate the immune response to Mycobacterium leprae. The association of HLA-DRB1 with leprosy has been reported in several populations, but not in a Chinese population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe with Luminex100 (PCR-SSOP-Luminex) method was used to genotype HLA-DRB1 alleles in 305 leprosy patients and 527 healthy control individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HLA-DRB1*15 allele was significantly more prevalent among leprosy patients than healthy controls, whereas the frequency of the HLA-DRB1*09 allele was lower among leprosy patients, especially those with early-onset disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HLA-DRB1 alleles are associated with leprosy susceptibility in a Chinese population. The HLA-DRB1*09 allele was found to be protective exclusively in a subset of early-onset leprosy patients.
authors.affiliation: Shandong Provincial Institute of Dermatovenereology, Jinan, Shandong Province, PR China. zhangfuren@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Furen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Shumin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Changyuan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chuanfu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Tongsheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Dianchang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaoxiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Jianjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D056006:Leprosy, Multibacillary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D056005:Leprosy, Paucibacillary / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains