Effect of human leukocyte antigen class II genes on Hashimoto’s thyroiditis requiring replacement therapy with levothyroxine in the Japanese population

Abstract

Contribution of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) subtype to Hashimoto's thyroiditis (HT) that requires replacement therapy with levothyroxine remains unclear in the Japanese population. The frequencies of HLA DR-DQ haplotypes were compared between patients with HT requiring levothyroxine replacement therapy and the control individuals. We studied 82 patients with HT requiring levothyroxine replacement therapy. The frequencies of DRB1*08:03-DQB1*06:01 and DRB1*09:01-DQB1*03:03 haplotypes were significantly higher in HT patients, whereas those of DRB1*13:02-DQB1*06:04 and DRB1*15:01-DQB1*06:02 haplotypes were significantly lower in these patients than in the controls. Deduced from known linkage disequilibria, DRB1*13:02-DQB1*06:04 and DRB1*15:01-DQB1*06:02 haplotypes share the same DQA1*01:02 allele. Since DQB1*06:02 and DQB1*06:04 molecules differ in the beta chain by 7 residues, these DQB1 genes are very similar. The DQA1*01:02-DQB1*06 (DQB1*06:02 or DQB1*06:04) haplotype might play a pivotal role in the resistance to HT.