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HLA associations with multiple sclerosis in Greece

Ioanna Kouri1, Stylianos Papakonstantinou, Vaios Bempes

  • 1Neurosurgery Institute, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece. ioannakouri@yahoo.gr

Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|July 12, 2011
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

This study investigated human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles in Greek multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, finding specific HLA variants are more common in those with MS. These findings align with research in other Caucasian populations.

Area of Science:

  • Immunogenetics
  • Neurology
  • Human Genetics

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a central nervous system inflammatory disease influenced by genetic and environmental factors.
  • The role of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II alleles in MS susceptibility is well-established in North European and North American Caucasians.
  • This study examines HLA associations in a Greek MS population from Epirus.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the prevalence of HLA-DRB1*1501, HLA-DQB1*0602, and HLA-DQA1*0102 alleles in Greek MS patients.
  • To determine if these alleles, forming a common susceptibility haplotype, are associated with MS in this population.
  • To explore correlations between these alleles and clinical characteristics of MS.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study involving 126 MS patients and 93 healthy controls from northwest Greece.
  • Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing was performed using the polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) method.
  • Statistical analysis was used to compare allele frequencies between patients and controls.

Main Results:

  • HLA-DRB1*1501, HLA-DQB1*0602, and HLA-DQA1*0102 alleles were significantly more frequent in MS patients compared to controls.
  • The combined HLA-DRB1*1501, HLA-DQB1*0602, HLA-DQA1*0102 haplotype was also significantly more common in patients.
  • HLA-DRB1*1501 and HLA-DQB1*0602 were associated with initial symptoms affecting the brainstem or cerebellum.

Conclusions:

  • This is the first study to investigate genetic susceptibility to MS in Greece.
  • The findings support the association of specific HLA alleles with MS in the Greek population.
  • Results are consistent with previous studies in North European and North American Caucasian populations.

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