HLA Antigen Frequencies Research Articles

Alloimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia and hydrocephalus. Platelet antigen Zwa, ABO-antigens and HLA-antigens in mothers to infants with hydrocephalus.

In 27 mothers to infants with hydrocephalus determinations of platelet antigen Zwa, HLA-typing and ABO-typing were performed in order to evaluate whether undiagnosed alloimmune neonatal thrombocytopenia (AINT) could be an aetiological factor in hydrocephalus. All mothers were Zwa-positive, and the frequency of HLA-antigens and ABO-antigens was as in the normal population. Though sporadic cases of hydrocephalus following AINT are reported, this is not a common cause of intracranial haemorrhage and hydrocephalus.

Rheumatoid arthritis with pleural effusion includes a subgroup with autoimmune features and HLA-B8, Dw3 association.

Twenty-eight patients with rheumatoid pleural effusion were investigated to examine the frequency of HLA antigens as compared with 56 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients without this intrathoracic manifestation of RA and with 283 healthy controls. HLA-B8 was strongly associated with the presence of pleural effusion (PE) in RA patients. A high prevalence (71%) of B8/Dw3 was found among male RA patients of the PE group in whom the joint disease had begun at an age over 50 years and who also had besides pleuritis other intrathoracic manifestations of RA associated with high rheumatoid factor titres and low complement (C4) levels in sera. Actually, the HLA-B8 association was not seen in the rest of the PE group. The finding may be related to the heterogeneity of RA, a male subgroup of the disease being characterized by multiple intrathoracic manifestations and genetically associated with the large group of autoimmune disorders, such as SLE, characterized by high prevalences of HLA-B8 and D(R)3.

HLA and DR antigen frequencies in melanoma patients: possible relation to disease prognosis.

The frequency of HLA-DR5 was significantly increased in a large group of malignant melanoma patients (33.7% vs 20.5% for controls). The subgroup of patients with poor prognosis showed both a DR5 increase and a relative decrease in DR1. Although none of these differences was significant after correction for the number of antigens tested, similar findings have been made for other malignancies and further studies should be encouraged.

HLA-typing in oral submucous fibrosis.

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) is a disease of the mouth and oropharynx characterised by progressive deposition of collagen leading to severe limitation of movement of the jaw in advanced cases. It is almost completely confined to inhabitants of, or migrants from India who chew 'betel nut'. The histopathological and clinical features suggest that autoimmune mechanisms may be involved. Because all chronic autoimmune diseases show disturbance in the frequencies of HLA antigens, we have HLA typed 50 OSF patients and a similar number of healthy subjects of the same ethnic origin. Raised frequencies of A10 and DR3 were observed. The results support the concept that OSF is a chronic autoimmune disease, initiated by constituents of betel nut, and occurring in genetically susceptible individuals. Genes situated in the HLA region are important determinants of genetic susceptibility in OSF.

FAILURE TO DETECT ASSOCIATION OF ISOLATED CLEFT PALATE WITH HLA ANTIGENS

HLA antigen frequencies have been determined in 282 controls and in 33 individuals with isolated cleft palate or the related birth defect velopharyngeal incompetence. No association of particular HLA antigens with this birth defect was found. A previously reported association of HLA A2 with cleft palate, in males, was not confirmed.

Histoincompatibility in couples with unexplained infertility

Class I human leukocyte antigens (HLA-A, -B) and class II (HLA-DR) antigens were determined in 18 carefully selected couples suffering from unexplained infertility and subsequently compared with 30 normal fertile couples with no history of secondary sterility and with a control group consisting of randomly matched women and men from our laboratory cell panel. No significant differences in the frequencies of HLA antigens were detected between infertile and control groups. The frequency of shared HLA-A, -B, and -DR antigens among members of the couples was similar in all the groups. Finally, the one-way mixed lymphocyte culture showed normal reactivity of both infertile parental pairs in all combinations tested.

Study of the HLA gene and antigen frequency from a Saudi Arabian hospital.

The HLA-A, -B, -C and DR loci antigen frequencies were determined, respectively, on 1145, 558 and 352 healthy nonrelated Saudi family members. B21, CW4, CW7, and Dr7 showed the highest gene frequencies, of 14.6%, 28.3%, 7.4% and 19.5%, when compared to other populations. Haplotypes A2-B5, A32-B51, A26-B8, A2-B21, A28-B35, Aw19-B21 and B21-CW4 showed the highest frequencies when compared to other populations. Gene frequencies of 14.6% and 20.2% for B21 and Aw19 antigens, respectively, are highest among Middle East populations. Gene frequencies for A1 (10.5%), A2 (24.9%), A3 (8.9%), A9 (16.7%) and A28 (7.9%) are similar to the 10.1%, 24.9%, 8.3%, 16.8% and 7.7%, respectively, reported for the Turkish population. Also, gene frequencies for B5 (18.5%), B21 (14.6%) and B35 (10.2%) are very close to 17.1%, 14.0% and 10.2%, respectively, reported in the Yemenite population. The above results suggest some influence of other populations on the 'pure' Arab population.

HLA antigens in patients with otosclerosis.

Seventy-four (50 females and 24 males) consecutively sampled patients with otosclerosis were tissue typed for HLA A and B antigens. There was no significant increase in any A or B antigen, but the frequency of B40 was significantly lower (p less than 0.05) in patients than in blood donors. No significant difference in HLA antigen frequencies was found between men and women, or in patients with vs. without a family history of otosclerosis.

HLA-antigens in Guillain-Barré syndrome.

A microlymphocytotoxicity test determined serologically the frequency of HLA antigens in 32 patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome and in 234 healthy control subjects. The results demonstrated significantly increased frequencies of A3 and B8. The relative risk was estimated to be 9.6 and 4.6 for the A3 and B8 antigens, respectively. Study of the gametic association revealed weak positive linkage disequilibrium and biological association. The results are discussed, and it is concluded that the aberrant genetic make-up of the patients makes them more susceptible to develop the syndrome after exposure to the environmental factor(s).

HLA in psychiatric and control subjects. A comparative study of HLA antigen frequencies in schizophrenic, schizoaffective and control subjects

HLA antigens were typed among 24 schizophrenic, 13 schizoaffective and 246 control subjects. Schizoaffective patients showed significantly decreased incidence of A2 compared with schizophrenic patients or controls.

Brief communication: HLA antigen frequencies in renal cell carcinoma

HLA-A, B, and C antigen frequencies were studied in 38 Caucasian patients with a history of renal cell carcinoma; 30 were also tested for DR antigen frequencies. The results failed to indicate any significant deviations from normal Caucasian HLA antigen frequency distributions. These results were inconsistent with a previous study that indicated a very significant increase in the frequency of the antigen DR5 among renal cell cancer patients.

Prevalence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus and frequency of HLA antigens in patients with preinvasive and invasive cervical cancer

Previous herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections are known to predispose women for the development of cervical cancer, but causal relationship between the virus and the cancer has never been proven. Forty-six patients with cervical carcinoma (13 with preinvasive lesions and 33 with various stages of invasive disease) were selected for the present study. Among the patients 96% were seropositive for the presence of antibodies to herpes simplex virus compared to 87% of the 30 controls. Antibodies specific for HSV-2 were found in the sera from 24% of the patients and 17% of the controls by the use of an immunoblotting test. Patients and controls were typed for HLA-A,B,C and D/DR antigens, but no significant associations were found.

HLA AND FUCHS‘ HETEROCHROMIC CYCLITIS

The frequencies of HLA‐A, B and C antigens were determined in 24 patients with Fuchs' heterochromia cyclitis. The frequencies of HLA antigens in these patients compared well with the frequencies in the controls.

NO ASSOCIATION OF CATARACT WITH THE HLA SYSTEM

The frequency of HLA antigens has been determined in patients with different types of cataract. No association was found between the development of senile cataract and HLA. Although HLA antigens are associated with susceptibility to acute anterior uveitis and juvenile‐onset diabetes, and these diseases may be complicated by cataract, it is obvious that the development of cataract is only secondary to these diseases and not itself associated with HLA antigens. We can conclude that there is no association between HLA and the development of cataract.

HLA AND TOXOPLASMIC RETINOCHOROIDITIS

The frequency of HLA antigens was determined in patients with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. The results showed that there were no significant differences between the patients and the controls.

HLA -A, -B, -C and -DR antigens in individuals with sensitivity to cobalt

In a skin investigation of 853 individuals working with hard metal manufacturing 39 cases of cobalt allergy were found. Thirty-five of the individuals with cobalt sensitivity and 102 matched controls were HLA-A, -B, -C and -DR typed. No significantly deviating HLA antigen frequencies were observed when the two groups were compared. Thus, there are no signs that a certain HLA antigen would dispose to cobalt allergy. In the cobalt sensitive group the B7 positive individuals showed particularly often simultaneous reactions to other contact allergens (p = less than 0.025). The B12 positive individuals had low reactivity (p = less than 0.0001) while the A28 positive showed high reactivity (p = less than 0.015).

HLA antigens, autoantibodies and clinical subsets in scleroderma.

The HLA antigens were determined in 54 Caucasoid patients with scleroderma (ARA criteria). All were assessed for extent of skin and organ involvement, anticentromere (ACA), and scleroderma 70 (Scl 70) antibodies. The antigens DR1, DR3 and DR5 were raised in the patient group, and DR2 was lowered. Of these only the increase in DR5 was significant (chi 2 = 5.2; p = 0.02). The increased frequency of DR3 was attributable to a rise in the A1, B8, DR3 haplotype (chi 2 = 3.9; p = 0.05). Patients with non-diffuse disease showed a significant increase in the DR1 and DR5 antigens (chi 2 = 3.7, p = 0.05; chi 2 = 8.0, p = 0.01). No association was found between the HLA antigens and specific organ involvement. Anticentromere antibodies were present in 15 of the HLA-DR typed patients. Thirteen of these 15 patients were either DR1 or DR5. No relationship was found between the frequencies of HLA antigens and anti-Scl 70 antibodies.

Blood groups and HLA antigens in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Frequencies of blood groups (ABO, Rh, MNSs, P, Kell, Lewis and Duffy) and HLA antigens were studied in a series of patients from northern Sweden with abdominal aortic aneurysms. The following significant differences from the controls were found: a decreased frequency of the Rh-negative blood group and increased frequencies of the Kell-positive and MN blood groups. Previously reported associations with the ABO and Rh systems were not confirmed.

Myasthenia gravis and HLA antigens in American blacks and other races

The association of HLA B8 and DR3 with generalised adult onset myasthenia gravis (GMG) in European Caucasoids is now well established. Studies of the HLA association with myasthenia gravis (MG) in other races might help to determine the location of a critical disease locus. Some previous studies in Japanese, Thais, Asian Indians and Filipinos have been reported. In this study HLA A, B, C and DR typing on 28 American blacks with either GMG or ocular myasthenia gravis (OMG) is reported. A significant increase in both HLA A1 and B8 was detected but there was an increase in DR5 rather than DR3. A review of the HLA antigen frequencies in other races and in D-penicillamine (D-Pen) induced MG suggests that prior claims implicating immune response genes marked by DR3 require review. It seems unlikely that any particular HLA allele is involved directly. Other possibly relevant combinations of alleles or supratypes are suggested. These may provide the basis for future studies of the immunogenetic basis for MG.

Long-term effects of vasectomy part II: Immunological parameters

A cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the long-term immunological sequelae of vasectomy with respect to humoral response as well as the cell-mediated immune response (CMI) to spermatozoa. In the humoral response, circulating immune-complexes (CICs) were also estimated and attempts were made to investigate whether the development of antibodies to spermatozoa had any association with the HLA system. Four different techniques, viz. tray agglutination test (TAT), spermatozoa immobilization test (SIT), cellular-radioimmunoassay (CRIA) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to estimate antibodies to spermatozoa. Serum samples were considered positive when at least two of the above mentioned techniques gave a positive response to spermatozoal antigens. The results indicated that 37.5% of the vasectomized men developed antibodies to spermatozoa. CICs were present in 12% of the vasectomized subjects and 4% of the controls. 59.3% of the vasectomized who showed the presence of CICs, were negative to the presence of antibodies to spermatozoa. The HLA antigen frequency in the vasectomized subjects did not differ in individuals with and without spermatozoal antibodies. The CMI response to spermatozoa was negative in vasectomized subjects.