Assessment of HLA-DRB1 alleles frequencies in patients with pemphigus in Russian population

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pemphigus vulgaris is known to be associated with genetics, immunological and hormonal factors which cause acantholysis resulting in intraepidermal blistering. Moreover, Human class II leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles are known to be the best-established predisposing factor for its development. Class II HLA alleles vary among racial/ethnic backgrounds. AIM: we investigated an association between HLA class II DRB1 alleles and pemphigus vulgaris among the Russian population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 70 patients with confirmed diagnosis of pemphigus vulgaris were genotyped for HLA class II alleles. HLA class II frequencies were compared with healthy volunteers (n=92). The statistical significance of differences between patients and controls was evaluated using Fishers exact test. A single blood sample for HLA typing was obtained from all the subjects. The strength of association between HLA alleles and pemphigus vulgaris was estimated by odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) p 0.01 was considered to be statistically significant. P-values were corrected for multiple comparisons according to the BenjaminiHochberg method. RESULTS: We observed that DRB1*4 and DRB1*14 allelic groups were associated with pemphigus vulgaris (41.4% vs 8.7%; OR 2.33 vs 0.34; p=0.000001 and 27.1% vs 6.5%; OR 1.98 vs 0.41; p=0.0004 respectively), while HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB*15 were negatively associated with pemphigus vulgaris (4.3% vs 21.7%; OR 0.33 vs 1.62; p=0.001 and 5.7% vs 19.6%; OR 0.44 vs 1.5 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest, that HLA DRB1*4 and DRB1*14 alleles are genetic markers for pemphigus vulgaris susceptibility, whereas DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB*15 groups appear protective in Russian population.