Genetic control of immune response in carriers of the 8.1 ancestral haplotype: correlation with levels of IgG subclasses: its relevance in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.

Ancestral haplotype (AH) 8.1(HLA-A1, Cw7, B8, TNFAB*a2b3, TNFN*S, C2*C, Bf*s, C4A*Q0, C4B*1, DRB1*0301, DRB3*0101, DQA1*0501, DQB1*0201) seems to be associated with susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. Different mechanisms are probably involved in increasing autoimmunity, such as unbalanced cytokine production and the lack of C4A protein. So AH 8.1 modifies immune response in many ways. In this study we demonstrate that IgG2 serum levels were significantly lower in 8.1 AH carriers than in 8.1 AH non-carriers. On the contrary, as regards IgG1, IgG3, IgG4 serum levels, no significant differences were observed between the two groups. In AH 8.1 carriers low IgG2 levels might take to slower clearance of the infectious agent and hence to a lasting presence of it. The persistence of infectious antigens could determine an increased production of autoantibodies with a higher risk of cross-reactions.

HLA, aging, and longevity: a critical reappraisal.

Despite a large number of studies, available data do not allow at present to reach definitive and clear conclusions on role of HLA on longevity, owing to major methodological problems, such as serological and molecular typing of different loci, insufficient sample sizes, different inclusion criteria and age cut-off, inappropriate mixing of data referred to people from 58 to over 100 years of age, inappropriate control matching, and neglected consideration of sex-related effects and the different genetic make-up of studied populations. However, within this confused scenario, some data emerge. First, two studies that do not fit the biases above discussed show that some HLA alleles are associated with longevity. However, some of these alleles may confer an increased risk to undergo a variety of diseases. Second, longevity may be associated with an increased homozygosity at HLA loci. Third, an intriguing association between longevity and the 8.1 ancestral haplotype (AH), which has been proven to be associated with a variety of immune dysfunctions and autoimmune diseases, apparently emerges. This association appears to be a sex-specific (males) longevity contributor, and it is particularly interesting, taking into account that a type 2 (early infancy) --> type 1 (adulthood) --> type 2 (aging) shift of cytokine profile occurs lifelong, and that individuals bearing this haplotype show a type 2 immune responsiveness (note that type 1 cytokines mainly enhance cellular responses, whereas type 2 cytokines predominantly enhance humoral responses). On the whole, the (sex specific) association of longevity with alleles or haplotypes of several genes related to risk factors for a variety of diseases (cardiovascular diseases, cancer), including HLA alleles and haplotypes, is not unexpected on the basis of previous studies on the genetics of longevity in centenarians. This association can be interpreted under the perspective of a well known evolutionary theory of aging (antagonistic pleiotropy). This theory predicts that the same gene (or allele or haplotype) can have different roles (positive or negative) in different periods of the life span. Thus, the 8.1 AH should exert a positive effect during the infancy and aging but not in adulthood, when, indeed it is associated to susceptibility to a variety of diseases.