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HLA-C locus alleles in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA)
D D Gladman1, C Cheung, C M Ng
1Psoriatic Arthritis Program, Centre for Prognosis Studies in The Rheumatic Disease, The Toronto Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
This study found the HLA-Cw*0602 allele is more common in psoriatic arthritis patients and linked to earlier psoriasis onset. Molecular DNA techniques improved HLA-C allele detection.
Area of Science:
- Immunogenetics
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory condition.
- Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes are crucial in immune responses and disease susceptibility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare HLA-C locus allele frequencies in PsA patients versus healthy controls.
- To investigate the association between HLA genes and PsA disease phenotype, specifically age of onset.
Main Methods:
- HLA typing using serologic and molecular (PCR-SSP) techniques on 94 PsA patients and 100 controls.
- Statistical analysis (Fisher's exact test) to compare allele frequencies.
- Standardized assessment of patient disease characteristics.
Main Results:
- Molecular techniques reduced "blank" (null) HLA-C alleles to 6%.
- The HLA-Cw*0602 allele was significantly more frequent in PsA patients (17%) than controls (9%, p < 0.01).
- Patients with HLA-Cw*0602 showed a significantly earlier mean age of psoriasis onset (p = 0.003).
Conclusions:
- Molecular DNA techniques enhance HLA-C allele detection accuracy.
- Increased prevalence of HLA-Cw*0602 in PsA patients suggests a genetic predisposition.
- The HLA-Cw*0602 allele is associated with an earlier onset of psoriasis in affected individuals.
Abstract:
The aim of this investigation was to compare the frequency of alleles at the HLA-C locus in patients with psoriatic arthritis to that in the disease free population and to relate the HLA genes to disease phenotype in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Ninety-four consecutive patients seen in the (PsA) clinic between April and July 1996 and 100 disease-free controls had HLA typing performed by both serologic and molecular techniques. Patients' disease was assessed according to a standard protocol. Fisher's exact test was used to compare the frequency of HLA alleles in the patients and controls. HLA-C determined by PCR-SSP decreased the frequency of non-identified, that is, "blank" (or null) alleles to 6% in patients and controls. HLA-Cw*0602 was present in 32 patients and 18 controls: allele frequency of 17% in the patients versus 9% in the controls (p < 0.01). Amongst patients with psoriatic arthritis, those who carried the HLA-Cw*0602 allele had a significantly earlier mean age of onset of their psoriasis (p = 0.003). This study confirms that molecular DNA techniques improve detection of C-locus alleles. The HLA-Cw*0602 is increased amongst patients with psoriatic arthritis compared to controls. The HLA-Cw*0602 is associated with an earlier age of onset of psoriasis.
