title: [HLA class II in Mexican patients with pemphigus vulgaris: shared epitope for autoimmunity].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pemphigus is an autoimmune blistering disease of skin and mucous membranes characterized by presence of IgG antibodies against desmoglein 3, and 1. Desmoglein 3 and 1 are presented in pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceous, respectively. Desmoglein are transmembrane proteins that form part of cellular junctions called desmosomes. Major histocompatibility complex class II molecules have been related to autoimmune disease; in pemphigus vulgaris, different human lymphocyte antigens (HLA) were associated among different ethnic groups, such as HLA-DR4, HLA-DR14, and HLA-DR1.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to determine the allele HLA-DR genetic frequencies in Mexican patients with pemphigus.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with clinical, histological, and immunofluorescence diagnosis monitored at the Dermatology Department of the Mexican General Hospital were included. DNA was extracted from blood samples and genetic recognition of HLA-DRβ1 was performed by polymerase chain reaction and hybridization. Forty-three patients with pemphigus were included: 35 (81.4%) women and eight men (18.6%) between 16 and 85 years old.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HLA-DR14 and HLA-DR1 genetic frequencies were elevated among pemphigus patients and these alleles confer risk to pemphigus 2.2 and 3.3, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that pemphigus vulgaris susceptibility is part of a general predisposition to present autoimmune diseases.
authors: Subdirección de Investigación, Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea González, Ciudad de México, México.
authors: Lucía
authors: L
authors: Rangel-Gamboa
authors: Subdirección de Investigación, Hospital Dr. Manuel Gea González, Ciudad de México, México.
authors: María Elisa
authors: ME
authors: Vega-Memije
authors: Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Escuela Nacional de Antropología e Historia, Ciudad de México, México.
authors: Víctor
authors: V
authors: Acuña-Alonzo
authors: Departamento de Trasplantes, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Ciudad de México, México.
authors: Julio
authors: J
authors: Granados-Arriola
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000276:immunology*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D008875:Middle Aged; D010392:Pemphigus / Q000276:immunology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006680:HLA Antigens; D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens