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Genetic factors and multiple sclerosis in the Moroccan population: a role for HLA class II

S Ouadghiri1, K El Alaoui Toussi, C Brick

  • 1Unité d'immunologie, service de transfusion sanguine et d'hémovigilance, CHU Ibn-Sina, Rabat, Morocco; UPR d'immunologie, faculté de médecine et de pharmacie de Rabat, université Mohamed V, Souissi, Rabat, Morocco.

Pathologie-Biologie
|July 16, 2013
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

The HLA-DRB1*15 allele is linked to increased multiple sclerosis (MS) risk in the Moroccan population. This genetic marker may play a role in MS susceptibility for this group.

Area of Science:

  • Immunogenetics
  • Neurology
  • Human Genetics

Background:

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune CNS disease primarily affecting young adults.
  • The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II genes, particularly HLA-DRB1*15, are associated with MS susceptibility across diverse ethnicities.
  • Genetic factors influencing MS risk in specific populations require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the frequency of HLA-DRB1* and -DQB1* alleles in the Moroccan population.
  • To assess the association of these HLA alleles with susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in Morocco.

Main Methods:

  • Case-control study comparing 57 Moroccan MS patients with 172 healthy controls.
  • HLA class II (DRB1* and DQB1*) typing using PCR-SSP and/or Luminex (PCR-SSO).
  • Statistical analysis of allelic and haplotypic frequencies, odds ratios (OR), and confidence intervals (CI).

Main Results:

  • A significant elevation in the frequency of the HLA-DRB1*15 allele was observed in MS patients (17.6%) compared to controls (8.4%).
  • The HLA-DRB1*15-DQB1*06 haplotype was also significantly more frequent in Moroccan MS patients (8.8% vs 4.08%).
  • No significant association was found for HLA-DQB1* alleles or the DR15 allele with sex or age at onset.

Conclusions:

  • The HLA-DRB1*15 allele is implicated in the predisposition to multiple sclerosis in the Moroccan population.
  • This study provides the first genetic marker analysis for MS susceptibility in Moroccans.
  • Further validation with larger sample sizes is recommended to confirm these findings.
Keywords:
DRB1*15HLA class IIHLA de classe IILuminexMarocMoroccan populationMultiple sclerosisSclérose en plaque

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