Analysis of HLA-DRB1*1501 in Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Khuzestan Province, Iran

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The pathogenesis of this disease is still unknown, although there are evidences of environmental factors affecting subjects with genetic predisposition factors. The contribution of HLA-DRB1*1501 to MS risk has been replicated and confirmed in most population-based studies. Since there are no data with respect to the association of HLA-DRB1*1501 and MS in Khuzestan province. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of this allele with MS in Khuzestan province. Methods: In this case-control study, DRB1*1501 allele was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP)in200MSpatientsand200unrelatedhealthyindividuals,withoutanyautoimmunediseasefromthesamegeographical region. The frequencies of the mentioned allele were compared between the patients and control group using SPSS 16 statistical software and the chi square test. Results: Theresultsdemonstratedthatdistributionof DRB1*1501allelewasstatisticallydifferentbetweenpatientandcontrol(41.5% vs. 22.81%, P < 0.001); significant correlation was observed among these allele with both Arab (28.84% vs. 50.84%, P = 0.005) and Persian (15.87% vs. 35.55%, P = 0.018) ethnicities; although no association was revealed between mentioned allele and disease clinical course (relapsing-remitting, secondary-progressive, progressive-relapsing and primary-progressive), expanded disability scale score (EDSS) and gender. Conclusions: Thestudypresentsassociationof susceptibilitytomultiplesclerosisinsouthwestof IranwithHLA-DRB1*1501allelein both Arab and Persian ethnic; although DRB1*1501 may be is not involved in the pathogenesis of different MS disease subtypes. The results are consistent with most of the other studies in Iran; and also most studies in European populations.