HLA- DRB GENOTYPING OF BRAIN ASTROCYTOMAS AMONG IRAQI PATIENTS

Abstract

Background: The major histocompatiblity complex (MHC) refers to as human leukocyte antigen (HLA). The loss of HLA antigens by neoplastic cells is considerably important for tumor growth and metastasis and expression of certain certain HLA allels may predispose to have certain types of tumors. Objective: To investigate the genetic susceptibility of HLA-DRB1, DRB3, DRB4 and. DRB5 alleles to brain astrocytomas in Iraqi patients.Methods: HLA-DRB1, DRB3, DRB4 and, DRB5 allele polymorphisms were typed by polymerase chain- reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) in 30 unrelated patients astrocytomas and 17 unrelated normal control subjects. The association was measured by appropriate statistical tests.Results: Allele frequency (AF) of HLA-DRB1*10011 and DRB1*10012 was significantly decreased in brain astrocytomas patients than that in normal controls (0.53 vs 0.93) the odds ratio 8.76). There was no association between patients and controls in the rested HLA-DRB1 alleles. Conclusion: HLA-DRB1*10011 and DRB1*10012 alleles were less common in the patients with brain astrocytomas than in the healthy controls. Individuals carrying HLA-DRB1* 10011 and DRB1*10012 alleles might be considered as protective markers. These protective alleles; might have a role in the degree of malignancy of the tumors and its histological type.