title: The association of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles with genetic susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in the Slovak population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to assess the association between HLA-DRB1 and -DQB1 allele groups with the genetic predisposition to multiple sclerosis (MS) in the Caucasian Central European Slovak population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 282 unrelated patients with sporadic MS were enrolled in this case-control study. HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 allele groups were genotyped using a polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers. The DRB1 and DQB1 allele carrier frequencies, genotypes and haplotype frequencies were compared between MS cases and healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive association with MS was found for alleles HLA-DRB1*15 (OR = 3.64; Pcor = 6.9x10-11), DRB1*03 (after elimination of carriers of DRB1*15, OR = 2.8; Pcor = 0.0029), DQB1*06 (OR = 1.99; Pcor = 7.0x10-4), genotypes HLA-DRB1*15/*15 (OR = 7.6; Pcor = 0.001) and DQB1*06/*06 (OR = 3.81; Pcor = 4.0x10-4) and for haplotype DRB1*15-DQB1*06 (OR = 3.03; Pcor = 0.001). Carriage of alleles DRB1*07 (OR = 0.53; Pcor = 0.04), DRB1*13 (OR = 0.39; Pcor = 4.0x10-4), DQB1*03 (OR = 0.46; Pcor = 1.0x10-4), genotypes HLA-DRB1*13/*11 (OR = 0.12; Pcor = 0.004), DQB1*05/*03 (OR = 0.39; Pcor = 0.035), DQB1*03/*03 (OR = 0.38; Pcor = 0.029) and haplotypes DRB1*13-DQB1*06 (OR = 0.47; Pcor = 0.0128) and DRB1*11-DQB1*03 (OR = 0.58; Pcor = 0.0352) was found to be protective against MS development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study performed to analyse the association of HLA-DRB1/DQB1 with susceptibility to MS in Slovakia. The results of our study confirm that HLA class II alleles, genotypes and haplotypes are associated with MS risk.
authors.affiliation: 1 Clinic of Neurology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava , Martin, Slovakia.
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michalik
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Čierny
authors.forename: Ema
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kantorová
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kantárová
authors.forename: Javor
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Juraj
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Párnická
authors.forename: Egon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurča
authors.forename: Dušan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dobrota
authors.forename: Ján
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lehotský
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D018154:Slovakia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains
keywords: Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA); Multiple sclerosis; Susceptibility to MS