HLA-DRB1/DQB1 susceptibility for autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II and III in south of Tunisia.

Objectives. - The aim of our study was to investigate the association of HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles with autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS) type II and III in a southern Tunisian population. Patients and methods. - Sixty-two unrelated patients with APSII (n = 20) and APSIII (n = 42) and 146 healthy controls were genotyped for HLA class II alleles (DRB1*, DQB1*) by PCR-SSP technique. Results. An increased frequencies of HLA-DQB1*03:02 (P = 0,02; OR = 2.98) in APSII patients, HLA-DRB1*03 (P=3 10(-6); OR = 4.28) and HLA-DQB1*02:01 (P = 0.04; OR = 1.95) in APSIII patients were found compared to healthy controls. Study of the HLA-DRB1*;DQB1* haplotype frequencies showed a higher occurrence of DRB1*04;DQB1*03:02 and DRB1*03;DQB1*02:01 in APSII patients (P = 4 10(-3); OR = 3.31 and P = 0.03; OR = 2.74 respectively) whereas APSIII was only associated with DRB1*03;DQB1*02:01 (P = 7.2 10(-8), OR = 4.71). Conclusion. - Our data suggest that the variation in class II HLA alleles and haplotypes could be a genetic factor involved in the susceptibility of APS syndrome. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.