HLA-DRB1*03 and DRB1*04 are associated with atrophic gastritis in an Italian population.
BACKGROUND
Atrophic gastritis (AG) is often considered an autoimmune disorder and is associated with other autoimmune diseases. HLA-DRB1 alleles are often associated with autoimmune diseases, however HLA-DRB1 genotyping data in AG patients are lacking. The objective of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of HLA-DRB1 in AG patients.


METHODS
The occurrence of HLA-DRB1 alleles was assessed in 89 Italian AG patients (69.1% female) and 313 controls (47.3% females). Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood, PCR-coamplified for HLA-DRB1 and typed using a reverse line-blot assay.


RESULTS
Compared to controls, prevalence of HLA-DRB1*03 (28.1% vs. 15.9%, p=0.01) and HLA-DRB1*04 (25.8% vs. 14.4%, p=0.01) was greater in AG patients, conferring an OR of 2.05 and 2.07, respectively. HLA-DRB1*01 occurred more frequently in controls than in AG patients (11.5% vs. 3.4%, p=0.01) conferring an OR of 0.27. AG patients carrying the HLA-DRB1*03 or *04 alleles were characterised by having more frequently autoimmune thyroid disease (70.4% vs. 42.2%, p=0.01) and intestinal metaplasia (86.4% vs. 62.2%, p=0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
In our population, over 50% of AG patients carry the HLA-DRB1*03 or *04 alleles associated with autoimmune diseases, suggesting that this subset of AG patients has a genetic predisposition to autoimmunity.
Lahner
Edith
E
Digestive and Liver Disease Unit, 2nd Medical School, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
Spoletini
Marialuisa
M
Buzzetti
Raffaella
R
Corleto
Vito D
VD
Vannella
Lucy
L
Petrone
Antonio
A
Annibale
Bruno
B
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015551:Autoimmunity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005757:Gastritis, Atrophic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains