Molecular Typing by Polymerase Chain Reaction Sequence Specific Primers (PCR- SSP) of Human Leukocyte Class I and Class II Alleles in a Sample of Iraqi Visceral Leishmaniasis Patients

Abdullah M Qader (Ph.D.),Ali H Adâ€™Hiah (Ph.D.),Nidal Abdul Mohymen(Ph.D.)

doi:10.24297/jbt.v4i1.1631

Abdullah M Qader (Ph.D.), Ali H Adâ€™Hiah (Ph.D.) + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.24297/jbt.v4i1.1631

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Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between HLA alleles and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in a sample of Iraqi patients. Methods: A total of 30 patients were studied, in addition to 20 age, gender and ethnicity matched controls. All subjects were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) method. Results: Â For HLA-class I region (A and B loci), only HLA-A*19 allele showed a significant (P = 0.031) decreased frequency in VL patients as compared with controls (13.3 vs. 45.0%), and such deviation was associated with OR and PF values of 0.19 and 0.37, respectively. At HLA-class II region, HLA-DRB1*03 and HLA-DQB1*02 alleles were significantly (P = 0.020 and 0.013, respectively) increased in VL patients (56.6 vs. 20% and 46.6 vs. 10%, respectively) as compared with controls. The OR of such two positive associations was 5.23 and 7.88, respectively, and the EF value was 0.46 and 0.41, respectively. In contrast, HLA-DRB1*02 (13.3 vs. 45.0%) and HLA-DQB1*03 (33.3 vs. 70.0%) were significantly (P = 0.031 and 0.023, respectively) decreased in patients. However, none of these differences remained significant after correcting the P value for the number of alleles tested at each locus. Conclusion: these preliminary data suggest that HLA alleles may have some role in aetiopathogenesis of VL, and this role can be in favour of susceptibility and/or protection.

Highlights

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a human protozoal disease, which is caused by the intracellular parasites Leishmania donovani and Leishmania infantum [1]
This study aimed to investigate the association between HLA alleles and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in a sample of Iraqi patients
For HLA-class I region (A and B loci), only HLA-A*19 allele showed a significant (P = 0.031) decreased frequency in VL patients as compared with controls (13.3 vs. 45.0%), and such deviation was associated with odd's ratio (OR) and preventive fraction (PF) values of 0.19 and 0.37, respectively

Summary

Introduction

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a human protozoal disease, which is caused by the intracellular parasites Leishmania donovani and Leishmania infantum [1]. Factors determining whether a patient remains asymptomatic or develops VL are still largely unknown; host genetic and immunological factors are considered as one of the main determinants that influence the susceptibility to develop the disease. Both factors are better understood in the ground of human major histocompatibility complex (MHC); the HLA system [3,4]. With the development of HLA molecular typing, the HLA association with VL and other parasitic infections can be better understood in terms of a genetic predisposition and may facilitate the development of vaccines for these infectious diseases [7]. The present study was undertaken to investigate the association of HLA class I (A and B) and class II (DR and DQB) alleles with VL in a sample of Iraqi patients, using a DNA based HLA typing method

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Conclusion