Association of the HLA-DR15/HLA-DQ6 haplotype with development of choroidal neovascular lesions in presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome

Hum Immunol. 2003 Oct;64(10):960-4. doi: 10.1016/s0198-8859(03)00175-7.

Abstract

Associations of human leukocyte antigen DR2 (HLA-DR2) and HLA-B7 with presumed ocular histoplasmosis syndrome (POHS) in the United States has been previously described. However, these associations were determined by means of low-resolution, complement-dependent cytotoxicity assays for HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DR molecules. To determine whether POHS is associated with other HLA alleles within the HLA-A, HLA-B, HLA-DR, and HLA-DQ loci, we performed a case control study of 34 patients diagnosed with macular choroidal neovascular membrane secondary to POHS and 45 healthy control individuals. Peripheral blood-derived DNA from the study patients was typed for HLA genes by means of sequence-specific primers that gave low-medium allele resolution. Significant associations were observed between HLA-B7 (X2 = 14.30, pc = 0.004, relative risk = 8.23), HLA-DR15 (X2 = 29.08, pc = 0.000001, relative risk = 27.50), and HLA-DQ6 (X2 = 23.09, pc = 0.00001, relative risk = 27.43) and POHS. Because there are strong linkage disequilibria between HLA-DR15 (a subtype of HLA-DR2) and HLA-B7 as well as HLA-DQ6, the significantly higher association of HLA-DR15 and HLA-DQ6 with POHS as compared to HLA-B7 suggests that the former alleles mediate susceptibility to the disease. In conclusion, there is a significant association between the HLA-DR15/HLA-DQ6 haplotype and development of choroidal neovascular lesions in POHS.

MeSH terms

  • Choroid / microbiology*
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / genetics
  • Eye Infections, Fungal / metabolism
  • HLA-DQ Antigens / genetics*
  • HLA-DQ Antigens / metabolism
  • HLA-DR Antigens / genetics*
  • HLA-DR Antigens / metabolism
  • HLA-DR Serological Subtypes
  • Haplotypes
  • Histoplasmosis / genetics*
  • Histoplasmosis / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Linkage Disequilibrium
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism

Substances

  • HLA-DQ Antigens
  • HLA-DQ6 antigen
  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • HLA-DR Serological Subtypes
  • HLA-DR15 antigen