title: HLA-B*40 allele plays a role in the development of acute leukemia in Mexican population: a case-control study.
abstract: Among oncohematological diseases, acute lymphoid leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are characterized by the uncontrolled production and accumulation of blasts that can lead to death. Although the physiopathology of these diseases is multifactorial, a genetic factor seems to be at play. Several studies worldwide have shown association of ALL and AML with several alleles of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine gene frequencies of HLA-B alleles in Mexicans (individuals with Native American genetic background admixed with European descent) with ALL and AML.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared the HLA-B alleles in 213 patients with ALL and 85 patients with AML to those present in 731 umbilical cord blood (UCB) samples as a control group; this was done by means of the PCR-SSP technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found an increased frequency of the HLA-B*40 allele in ALL patients as compared to the control group (14.5% versus 9.84%, P = 0.003, OR = 1.67); this was particularly evident in a subgroup of young (less than 18 years old) ALL patients (P = 0.002, OR = 1.76); likewise, a decreased frequency of HLA-B*40 allele in AML patients was observed as compared to the control group (4.70% versus 9.84%, P = 0.02, OR = 0.42).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results might suggest opposing effects of the HLA-B*40 in the genetic susceptibility to develop ALL or AML and offer the possibility to study further the molecular mechanisms of cell differentiation within the bone marrow lineage.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Sinovio Análisis Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Secretaría de Salud (SSA), Calzada México-Xochimilco Número 289, Tlalpan, 14389 México, DF, Mexico ; Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Circuito Interior, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, 04510 México, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fernández-Torres
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de la Transfusión Sanguínea, SSA. Avenida Othón de Mendizábal 195, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360 México, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Denhi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Flores-Jiménez
authors.affiliation: Centro Nacional de la Transfusión Sanguínea, SSA. Avenida Othón de Mendizábal 195, Gustavo A. Madero, 07360 México, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arroyo-Pérez
authors.affiliation: Immunogenetics Division, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán (INCMNSZ), SSA. Vasco de Quiroga 15, Col. Sección XVI, Tlalpan, 14000 México, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Granados
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Sinovio Análisis Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Secretaría de Salud (SSA), Calzada México-Xochimilco Número 289, Tlalpan, 14389 México, DF, Mexico.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: López-Reyes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D059947:HLA-B40 Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D059947:HLA-B40 Antigen