ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of anti-thyroid antibodies in a group of patients with scleroderma (SSc) and to analyze their genetic association with the HLA class II antigens. METHODS: Anti-thyroglobulin (anti-TG) and anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibodies were measured by hemagglutination techniques. Thyroid function was evaluated by determining the levels of FT3, FT4 and TSH. HLA-DR typing was carried out using a standard complement-dependent microlymphocytotoxicity test. RESULTS: The proportions of patients with anti-TG and anti-TPO antibodies were 12% (10/85) and 19% (16/85) respectively. Two patients with anti-thyroid antibodies had overt hypothyroidism and shared the HLA-DR3 allele. The SSc subjects with anti-TPO antibodies showed a higher frequency of the HLA-DR15 allele than the patients without these antibodies. CONCLUSION: A considerable number of patients with scleroderma have antibodies to thyroid antigens without exhibiting any alterations of their thyroid function. HLA-DR15 is an immunogenic marker for the formation of antibodies against microsomal thyroid peroxidase.
Subject(s)
Autoantibodies/blood , HLA-DR Antigens/immunology , Iodide Peroxidase/immunology , Scleroderma, Systemic/immunology , Adult , Aged , Amino Acid Sequence , Biomarkers , DNA Topoisomerases, Type I/genetics , DNA Topoisomerases, Type I/immunology , Female , Genetic Markers , HLA-DR Serological Subtypes , Humans , Iodide Peroxidase/genetics , Italy , Male , Middle Aged , Molecular Sequence Data , Thyroglobulin/immunologySubject(s)
Lung Neoplasms , Lymphangiomyoma , Lymphoproliferative Disorders , Adult , Drug Therapy, Combination , Female , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lymphangiomyoma/diagnostic imaging , Lymphangiomyoma/drug therapy , Lymphoproliferative Disorders/diagnostic imaging , Medroxyprogesterone/therapeutic use , Radiography , Tamoxifen/therapeutic useSubject(s)
Cyclosporins/pharmacology , HLA Antigens/genetics , Lymphocytes/drug effects , Cells, Cultured , HLA-DR Antigens/genetics , Humans , Interleukin-2/pharmacology , Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed , Lymphocytes/immunology , Phenotype , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/drug effects , T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory/immunologyABSTRACT
Thirty-one AIDS patients were typed for HLA A, B, C, and DR antigens. We confirmed that frequency of B35 is significantly higher in patients than in controls. No significant frequency differences in other HLA antigens were found. The analysis of HLA distribution in AIDS patients by risk categories suggests that B35 is a major risk factor, primarily mainly for patients belonging to the category of intravenous (IV) drug addicts.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/immunology , HLA Antigens/genetics , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/etiology , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/genetics , Gene Frequency , HLA-B35 Antigen , Humans , Italy , Risk Factors , Substance-Related Disorders/complicationsABSTRACT
To investigate the contribution of genetic susceptibility to infection with human immunodeficiency virus, 50 subjects with lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS) and 7 subjects with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and Kaposi's sarcoma were typed for HLA A, B, C, and DR antigens. The frequency of B35 was significantly higher in LAS patients who progressed to AIDS than in those who did not or in healthy controls. The association between DR5 and AIDS/Kaposi's sarcoma was also confirmed in these patients.
Subject(s)
AIDS-Related Complex/genetics , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/genetics , HLA Antigens/genetics , AIDS-Related Complex/immunology , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/immunology , Alleles , Disease Susceptibility , Genetic Markers , Humans , Risk , Sarcoma, Kaposi/genetics , Sarcoma, Kaposi/immunologyABSTRACT
We investigated HLA antigen and haplotype frequencies in 47 couples with primary recurrent abortions of unknown origin, in 65 fertile couples, and in a control panel of 98 males and 92 females. A significant increase of HLA-B17 was found in abortion couples in comparison with fertile couples. No difference between abortion and control fertile couples was observed regarding HLA sharing.
