ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the relation between the susceptibility to silicosis and the polymorphism of HLA-DRB1 *, DQB1 * genes in Chinese Hans.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>HLA-DRB1 * and DQB1 * gene polymorphism were tested in 48 silicosis patients and 100 normal controls by using polymerase chain reaction of sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The allele frequencies of DRB1 * 1401 and DQB1 * 05 in silicosis patients were significantly higher than those in normal controls (chi 2 = 5.61, P = 0.0066, RR = 17.40; chi 2 = 10.70, P = 0.0011, RR = 3.81, respectively), while the allele frequency of DRB1 * 09 was significantly lower in silicosis patients than that in controls (chi 2 = 5.70, P = 0.0187, RR = 0.21). There was a significant difference between the patient group and control group.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>HLA-DRB1 * 1401 and DQB1 * 05 may be the susceptible genes and HLA-DRB1 * 09 the protection gene of silicosis, both susceptibility and protection may be related to HLA-DR gene locus. The joint action of allele genes may affect the pathogenesis of silicosis.</p>