title: The association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G polymorphisms and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in Inuit women of northern Quebec.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G molecules act as negative regulators of the immune response. We analyzed the associations between HLA G polymorphisms and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL) in Inuit women from Nunavik, northern Quebec.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cervical specimens from a cohort study of 548 Inuit women were tested for HPV DNA. HPV genotypes were classified according to tissue-tropism groupings of alpha-papillomavirus species: alpha group 1 includes low risk (LR) cervical species, group 2 includes high risk (HR) cervical species, and group 3 includes LR vaginal species. HLA-G alleles were typed using direct DNA sequencing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HLA-G(∗)01:01:01 was associated with an increased risk of period prevalent alpha groups 1 (OR = 2.23, 95% CI:1.08-4.59) and 3 (OR = 1.70, 95% CI:1.09-2.65). The homozygous HLA-G(∗)01:04:01 genotype was associated with a decreased risk of alpha group 3 infection period prevalence (OR = 1.69 95% CI = 1.07-2.67). No HLA-G alleles were significantly associated with HPV persistence. HLA-G(∗)01:01:02, G(∗)01:04:01 and G(∗)01:06 were associated with high grade (HG)SIL, but the association did not reach statistical significance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that HLA-G polymorphisms play a role in the natural history of HPV infection, likely at the stage of host immune recognition. HLA-G polymorphisms interacted differently with the three alpha papillomavirus groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, 1020 Pine Ave. West Montreal, QC H3A 1A2, Canada.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Metcalfe
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roger
authors.forename: Marie-Claude
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Faucher
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Coutlée
authors.forename: Eduardo L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brassard
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D052685:Alphapapillomavirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D059951:HLA-G Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D004930:Inuit / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011792:Quebec
chemical_list: D059951:HLA-G Antigens