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HLA antigens and asthma in Greeks

J Apostolakis1, M Toumbis, K Konstantopoulos

  • 1First University Department of Medicine, Laikon General Hospital, Athens, Greece.

Respiratory Medicine
|April 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

This study found that certain Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) B antigens are less common in Greek asthma patients. Different HLA antigen frequencies were observed in adult and child asthma groups, suggesting a role for immunogenetics in asthma.

Area of Science:

  • Immunogenetics
  • Allergy and Immunology
  • Respiratory Medicine

Background:

  • Asthma is a complex respiratory disease with suspected immunogenetic components.
  • Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes play a crucial role in immune responses.
  • Previous research suggests associations between specific HLA types and various diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the frequencies of HLA-A and HLA-B antigens in Greek asthmatic patients.
  • To compare HLA antigen profiles between asthmatic children and adults.
  • To explore the potential role of specific HLA antigens in asthma pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Determined HLA-A and HLA-B antigen profiles in 76 Greek asthmatic patients (35 children, 41 adults).
  • Compared patient HLA antigen frequencies to 400 healthy unrelated controls from the same population.
  • Utilized the standard National Institutes of Health (NIH) lymphocytotoxicity test for HLA typing.

Main Results:

  • Overall, asthmatic patients showed a statistically significant lower frequency of HLA-B5 and HLA-B35 antigens compared to controls.
  • Adult asthmatics exhibited an increased frequency of the HLA-B8 antigen.
  • Asthmatic children displayed a significantly higher frequency of HLA-A10 and a lower frequency of HLA-B5.

Conclusions:

  • Different HLA antigens may be implicated in the pathogenesis of various clinical forms of asthma.
  • The study highlights the need for refined patient grouping criteria to better understand immunogenetic factors in asthma.
  • Findings suggest distinct immunogenetic influences on childhood and adult-onset asthma.

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