Alleles of HLA-DRB1*04 Associated with Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Amazon Brazilian Population

PLoS One. 2016 Feb 22;11(2):e0147543. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147543. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Immunogenetic host factors are associated with susceptibility or protection to tuberculosis (TB). Strong associations of HLA class II genes with TB are reported. We analyzed the HLA-DRB1*04 alleles to identify subtypes associated with pulmonary TB and their interaction with risk factors such as alcohol, smoking, and gender in 316 pulmonary TB patients and 306 healthy individuals from the Brazilian Amazon. The HLA-DRB1*04 was prevalent in patients with pulmonary TB (p<0.0001; OR = 2.94; 95% CI = 2.12 to 4.08). Direct nucleotide sequencing of DRB1 exon 2 identified nine subtypes of HLA-DRB1*04. The subtype HLA-DRB1*04:11:01 (p = 0.0019; OR = 2.23; 95% CI = 1.34 to 3.70) was associated with susceptibility to pulmonary TB while DRB1*04:07:01 (p<0.0001; OR = 0.02; 95% CI = 0.001 to 0.33) to protection. Notably, the interaction between alcohol and HLA-DRB1*04:11:01 increased the risk for developing pulmonary TB (p = 0.0001; OR = 51.3; 95% CI = 6.81 to 386). Multibacillary pulmonary TB, the clinical presentation of disease transmission, was strongly associated with interaction to alcohol (p = 0.0026; OR = 11.1; 95% CI = 3.99 to 30.9), HLA-DRB1*04:11:01 (p = 0.0442; OR = 2.01; 95% CI = 1.03 to 3.93) and DRB1*04:92 (p = 0.0112; OR = 8.62; 95% CI = 1.63 to 45.5). These results show that HLA-DRB1*04 are associated with pulmonary TB. Interestingly, three subtypes, DRB1*04:07:01, DRB1*04:11:01 and DRB1*04:92 of the HLA-DRB1*04 could be potential immunogenetic markers that may help to explain mechanisms involved in disease development.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Brazil
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Genetic / genetics
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / genetics*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • HLA-DRB1 Chains
  • HLA-DRB1*04 antigen

Grants and funding

The work was supported by the PPSUS – Programa de Pesquisa para o SUS: Gestão compartilhada em Saúde, FAPEAM – Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (Edital 007/2009), PIPT—Programa Integrado de Pesquisa Científica e Tecnológica, FAPEAM – Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (Edital 009/2007) and MCT – Ministério da Ciência e Tecnologia/CNPq – Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Universal, Processo No. 473484/2007-2 (Edital MCT/CNPq 15/2007).