Human leukocyte antigen-DQA1*0501 allele and its association with pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes mellitus among Iraqi children

Abstract

BackgroundType 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease, arising through a complex interaction of both genetic and immunologic factors. There is an association between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) complex and T1DM in various populations. The allele of HLA-DQA1 gene polymorphism associated with T1DM is HLA-DQA1*0501. The blood glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level provides the average blood glucose levels during two to three months, which is the predicted half-life of red blood cells (RBCs). ObjectiveTo investigate the molecular basis of the association of HLA- DQA1*0501 allele with HbA1c levels in children with T1DM, in the Kerbala province of Iraq. Materials and methodsThis is a case-control study conducted on 125 T1DM patients, including 66 males (52.8%) and 59 females (47.2%), with the mean age of 10.92 ± 3.78 years and 100 healthy controls, including 57 males (57%) and 43 females (43%), with the mean age of 8.4 ± 3.53 years, randomly recruited from the Kerbala province of Iraq. Genotyping of HLA was performed on genomic DNA, using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). ResultsThe frequency of HLA-DQA1*0501 allele in T1DM patients was 71.2%, and in apparently healthy control was 29%. The association between HbA1c level and HLA-DQA1*0501 allele was significant (P value ≤.01). ConclusionThe HLA-DQA1*0501 allele was highly associated with the risk of T1DM pathogenesis. A high significant correlation between the blood HbA1c level and HLA- DQA1*0501 allele was found.