title: Association of genetic polymorphism of HLA-DRB1 antigens with the susceptibility to lepromatous leprosy.
abstract: Despite the introduction of multidrug therapy and the overall reduction of leprosy prevalence in Mexico, the disease remains endemic in certain regions of the country. A genetic basis for the immune susceptibility toMycobacterium lepraehas already been established in different populations worldwide. In this study, we investigated the possible association of the HLA-DRB1 alleles with leprosy in a Mexican Mestizo population. The results demonstrated that the HLA-DRB1*01 allele is associated with lepromatous and dimorphic leprosy [P<0.001, odds ratio (OR)=4.6, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.8-11.4; and P=0.03, OR=6.2, 95% CI: 1.1-31.6, respectively] and the frequency of the HLA-DRB1*08 allele was found to be significantly lower among leprosy patients compared to controls (P=0.046, OR=2.4, 95% CI: 1-5.8). In conclusion, although the association of the HLA-DR locus with leprosy has been established in different populations and several studies have demonstrated significant differences in the DR alleles, this study demonstrated an association of the HLA-DRB1*01 allele with susceptibility to lepromatous and dimorphic leprosy, as well as an association of the HLA-DRB1*08 allele with protection against leprosy in a Mexican Mestizo population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, National School of Biological Sciences, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City 11340, Mexico.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Escamilla-Tilch
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Science Research, National Institute of Geriatrics, Ministry of Health, Mexico City, 10200, Mexico.
authors.forename: Nora Magdalena
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Torres-Carrillo
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa 80040, Mexico.
authors.forename: Rosalio Ramos
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Payan
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biological Sciences, Autonomous University of Sinaloa, Culiacan, Sinaloa 80040, Mexico.
authors.forename: Maribel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguilar-Medina
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, National School of Biological Sciences, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City 11340, Mexico.
authors.forename: Ma Isabel
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Salazar
authors.affiliation: Center for Research in Immunology and Dermatology, Dermatological Institute of Jalisco, Guadalajara, Jalisco 45190, Mexico ; Department of Physiology, University Center of Health Sciences, University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco 44100, Mexico.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fafutis-Morris
authors.affiliation: Mycology Section, General Hospital Dr Manuel Gea Gonzalez, Mexico City 14000, Mexico.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arenas-Guzman
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, National School of Biological Sciences, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City 11340, Mexico.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Estrada-Parra
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, National School of Biological Sciences, National Polytechnic Institute, Mexico City 11340, Mexico.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Estrada-Garcia
authors.affiliation: Department of Transplantation, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubiran, Mexico City 14000, Mexico.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Granados
keywords: HLA-DRB1; leprosy; polymorphism