title: HLA class II susceptibility to cervical cancer among Tunisian women.
abstract: The variability in host immunogenetic background, especially in human major histocompatibilty genes, has been shown to influence the susceptibility to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and cervical neoplasia. Here, we conducted a case-control study in Tunisian women to examine the effect of genetic variation in HLA class II DRB1 and DQB1 genes on invasive cervical cancer (ICC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). HLA genotyping was performed by PCR sequence-specific primers technique. The data revealed significant positive and negative associations, suggesting either predisposing or protective effects of these genes in the disease outcome. DRB1*15, alone or linked to DQB1*06, was associated with a 2.7- and 3.5-fold increase in risk for ICC, respectively. DRB1*13-DQB1*03 showed a similar 3.5 risk effect. Concerning SCC, we observed a relatively higher, about 1.2 times more, risk effect for these genetic markers. In contrast, only one haplotype - DRB1*13-DQB1*06 - provides evidence for a weak protection (about 0.3-fold reduction) of ICC and SCC. In conclusion, we suggest that HLA class II polymorphisms are involved in the genetic susceptibility to cervical cancer in Tunisian women.
authors.affiliation: El Manar University, Laboratory of Micro-Organisms and Active Biomolecules, Tunis, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Yosra
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ben Othmane
authors.forename: Ezzeddine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghazouani
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mezlini
authors.forename: Awatef
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lagha
authors.forename: Mejda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raïs
authors.forename: Radhia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kochkar
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zidi
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Afrit
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mota-Vieira
authors.forename: Besma
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yacoubi Loueslati
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D014416:Tunisia; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains