title: HLA distribution in COPD patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Auto-immunity may contribute to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), particularly to the presence of emphysema. Auto-immune diseases are characterized by an abnormal distribution of HLA class II alleles (DR and DQ). The distribution of DRB1 and DQB1 alleles has not been investigated in COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  To this end, HLA medium-low resolution typing was performed following standardized protocols in 320 clinically stable COPD patients included in the PAC-COPD study. Results were compared with controls of the same geographical and ethnic origin, and potential relationships with the severity of airflow limitation and lung diffusing capacity impairment were explored in patients with COPD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The distribution of DRB1 and DQB1 alleles in COPD was similar to that of controls except for a significantly higher prevalence of DRB1*14 in patients with severe airflow limitation and low diffusing capacity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By and large, HLA distribution was similar in COPD patients and controls, but the HLA class II allele DRB1*14 may contribute to the pathogenesis of severe COPD with emphysema.
authors.affiliation: Fundació Investigació Sanitaria Illes Balears (FISIB), Palma de Mallorca, Barcelona, Spain. rfaner@clinic.ub.es
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Faner
authors.forename: Belen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nuñez
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sauleda
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garcia-Aymerich
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pons
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crespí
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milà
authors.forename: Juan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Maria Antó
authors.forename: Alvar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agusti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D004646:Emphysema / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D005838:Genotype; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011653:Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity / Q000235:genetics; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains