Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Induction of Alloantigen-specific Anergy in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells by Alloantigen Stimulation with Co-stimulatory Signal Blockade
Published on: March 14, 2011
HLA association is different in children and adults with severe acquired aplastic anemia
Monika Führer1, Jürgen Durner, Günter Brünnler
1Department of Onkology and Hematology, Dr. v. Haunersche Kinderklinik of the Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Munich, Germany. monika.fuehrer@med.uni-muenchen.de
Background:
Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is defined as pancytopenia caused by bone marrow failure. The pathogenesis of SAA is thought to involve autoimmune processes. Increased susceptibility to autoimmunity has been shown to be associated with several different HLA alleles. In SAA, few large studies based on data mainly from adults describe a positive HLA correlation with HLA-DR2 (DRB1*15) and HLA-B14.
Procedure:
This study explored the HLA constitution of 181 children with SAA who were enrolled in the prospective multi-center study SAA94 between January 1994 and January 2002. The control group consisted of 303 healthy individuals of comparable demographic background. Allelic frequencies between patients and controls are compared using Fisher's exact test.
Results:
In our pediatric cohort, we describe a positive association with HLA-B14 (P = 0.0039), but no association of HLA-DR2 with SAA.
Conclusion:
HLA associations appear to be different in children and adults with SAA. This might point towards a difference in pathophysiology between at least part of the children and adults.
Related Concept Videos
Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy the...
Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency disorders...
Overview of Hematopoiesis
Developmental Phases of Hematopoiesis
Initially, HSCs are formed in the embryonic yolk sac, a critical site for early blood cell production. These stem cells subsequently migrate to other...
Multipotency of Hematopoietic Stem Cells
The ABO Blood Group
Antigens in the ABO Blood Group System
Antigens are substances that can trigger an immune response, leading to the production of antibodies. In the ABO blood group system,...
Hematopoiesis