Abstract
BackgroundMany autoimmune diseases are associated with variants of HLA genes such as those encoding the MHC complex. This correlation is not absolute, but may help in understanding of the molecular mechanism of disease. The purpose of this study was to determine HLA-DR,-DQ alleles in Latvian patients with Lyme borreliosis and control (healthy) persons. Case patients and control subjects were similar in age, gender and ethnic heritage and differed only as regards the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection. The study included 25 patients with clinical stage – erythema migrans and 30 control (healthy) persons. HLA genotyping was performed by PCR with sequence-specific primers.ResultsThe results show difference in HLA-DRB1 alleles distribution between patients and control subjects. The frequencies of HLA-DRB1 *04 (OR 11.24; p < 0.007) and HLA-DRB1 *17 (03) (OR 8.05; p < 0.033) were increased in the Lyme disease patients. And the frequency of allele DRB1*13 (OR 0.12; p < 0.017) was lower in Borreliosis patients and higher in control group. But, significant differences in frequencies of HLA-DQ alleles we did not detect.ConclusionsHLA predisposition to Lyme borreliosis appears not to be limited to HLA molecules, but some HLA-DR alleles also have a significant influence, and, may have implications in our understanding of pathogenesis of this disease. In particular, HLA-DRB1*04 and DRB1 *17 (03) may contribute to the Lyme borreliosis development in Latvian population
Highlights
Many autoimmune diseases are associated with variants of HLA genes such as those encoding the MHC complex
While Borrelia burgdorferi DNA can be detected in joint fluid of Lyme disease patients by PCR prior to treatment with antibiotics, it is unusual to detect such DNA in synovium or synovial fluid after antibiotic treatment, especially for patients experiencing recurrent Lyme arthritis [2,3]. These findings suggest that the pathogenesis of joint disease in chronic Lyme borreliosis may be a result of antibody directed against a component of the Borrelia burgdorferi spirochete that cross-reacts with synovial tissue
HLA- typing HLA-DR genotyping by PCR Low-resolution for DRB1*01 to DRB1*18; HLA-DQA1 typing for DQA1*0101 to DQA1*0601; and HLA-DQB1 typing for DQB1*0201 to DQB1*0608 was performed by PCR with sequencespecific primers (PCR–SSP) [10,11]
Summary
Many autoimmune diseases are associated with variants of HLA genes such as those encoding the MHC complex. This correlation is not absolute, but may help in understanding of the molecular mechanism of disease. The purpose of this study was to determine HLA-DR,-DQ alleles in Latvian patients with Lyme borreliosis and control (healthy) persons. Case patients and control subjects were similar in age, gender and ethnic heritage and differed only as regards the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection. The study included 25 patients with clinical stage – erythema migrans and 30 control (healthy) persons. Some patients with Lyme borreliosis experience recurrent episodes of joint inflammation for months or years. The histology of synovial lesions in Lyme borreliosis is similar to that for
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