Refinement of the MHC Risk Map in a Scandinavian Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis Population

Background

Genetic variants within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) represent the strongest genetic susceptibility factors for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Identifying the causal variants within this genetic complex represents a major challenge due to strong linkage disequilibrium and an overall high physical density of candidate variants. We aimed to refine the MHC association in a geographically restricted PSC patient panel.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A total of 365 PSC cases and 368 healthy controls of Scandinavian ancestry were included in the study. We incorporated data from HLA typing (HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB3, -DRB1, -DQB1) and single nucleotide polymorphisms across the MHC (n = 18,644; genotyped and imputed) alongside previously suggested PSC risk determinants in the MHC, i.e. amino acid variation of DRβ, a MICA microsatellite polymorphism and HLA-C and HLA-B according to their ligand properties for killer immunoglobulin-like receptors. Breakdowns of the association signal by unconditional and conditional logistic regression analyses demarcated multiple PSC associated MHC haplotypes, and for eight of these classical HLA class I and II alleles represented the strongest association. A novel independent risk locus was detected near NOTCH4 in the HLA class III region, tagged by rs116212904 (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] = 2.32 [1.80, 3.00], P = 1.35×10⁻¹¹).

Conclusions/Significance

Our study shows that classical HLA class I and II alleles, predominantly at HLA-B and HLA-DRB1, are the main risk factors for PSC in the MHC. In addition, the present assessments demonstrated for the first time an association near NOTCH4 in the HLA class III region.     

Polymorphism of Leukocyte and Erythrocyte Antigens in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients in Southern Brazil

We investigated the polymorphism of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and Duffy erythrocyte antigens in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients in southern Brazil. One hundred and eighty-three CKD patients, over 18 years old, on hemodialysis, were included. HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 typing was performed using the LABType®SSO (One Lambda, Inc.). Duffy phenotypes were determined by gel column agglutination using anti-Fy^a and anti-Fy^b monoclonal anti-sera. The patients'' predominant ages ranged between 51 and 70 years (43%) and the predominant gender, ethnic group and dialysis period were, respectively, male (62%), white (62%) and 1–3 years (40%). The highest and lowest frequencies of Duffy phenotypes were Fy(a+b+) and Fy(a−b−), respectively. Nineteen HLA-A, 30 HLA-B and 13 HLA-DRB1 allele groups were identified. The most frequent HLA allele groups were HLA-A*01, -A*02, -A*03, -A*11, -A*24; HLA-B*07, -B*15, -B*35, -B*44, -B*51; HLA-DRB1*03, -DRB1*04, -DRB1*07, -DRB1*11 and -DRB1*13. Statistically significant differences were observed in the Duffy and HLA polymorphisms compared between CKD patients and healthy subjects. The Fy(a+b−) phenotype (p<0.0001, OR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.60–4.07) was the most frequent in the patients (p<0.05), and the Fy(a+b+) phenotype (p = 0.0039, OR = 1.71, 95% CI = 1.18–2.51) was the most frequent in the healthy subjects in the same region of Paraná state (p<0.05). Regarding HLA, the HLA-B*42, -B*45, -B*51 and -DRB1*03 allele groups were the most frequent in the patients (p<0.05), and the HLA-B*44 allele group was the most frequent in the healthy subjects in the same region of Brazil (p<0.05). The polymorphism of these two markers among CKD patients in southern Brazil and healthy subjects of other studies, suggests that these markers might be involved with CKD development. Further studies should be undertaken to analyze the markers'' influence on CKD and the long-term results from kidney transplantation.     

HLA-DRB1 Shared Epitope-Dependent DR-DQ Haplotypes Are Associated with Both Anti-CCP–Positive and –Negative Rheumatoid Arthritis in Chinese Han

The association between Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) class II and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been extensively studied, but few reported DR-DQ haplotype. Here we investigated the association of HLA-DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, and DR-DQ haplotypes with RA susceptibility and with anti-CCP antibodies in 281 RA patients and 297 control in Han population. High-resolution genotyping were performed. The HLA-DRB1 shared epitope (SE)-encoding allele *0405 displayed the most significant RA association (P = 1.35×10⁻⁶). The grouped DRB1 SE alleles showed great association with RA (P = 3.88×10⁻¹³). The DRB1 DRRAA alleles displayed significant protective effects (P = 0.021). The SE-dependent DR-DQ haplotype SE-DQ3/4/5 remained strong association with both anti-CCP -positive (P = 3.71×10⁻¹³) and -negative RA (P = 3.89×10⁻⁵). Our study revealed that SE alleles and its haplotypes SE-DQ3/4/5 were highly associated with RA susceptibility in Han population. The SE-DQ3/4/5 haplotypes were associated with both anti-CCP positive RA and -negative RA.     

Comprehensive genotyping in two homogeneous Graves' disease samples reveals major and novel HLA association alleles

Background

Graves'' disease (GD) is the leading cause of hyperthyroidism and thyroid eye disease inherited as a complex trait. Although geoepidemiology studies showed relatively higher prevalence of GD in Asians than in Caucasians, previous genetic studies were contradictory concerning whether and/or which human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles are associated with GD in Asians.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We conducted a case-control association study (499 unrelated GD cases and 504 controls) and a replication in an independent family sample (419 GD individuals and their 282 relatives in 165 families). To minimize genetic and phenotypic heterogeneity, we included only ethnic Chinese Han population in Taiwan and excluded subjects with hypothyroidism. We performed direct and comprehensive genotyping of six classical HLA loci (HLA-A, -B, -C, -DPB1, -DQB1 and -DRB1) to 4-digit resolution. Combining the data of two sample populations, we found that B*46:01 (odds ratio under dominant model [OR]  = 1.33, Bonferroni corrected combined P [P_Bc]  = 1.17×10⁻²), DPB1*05:01 (OR  = 2.34, P_Bc = 2.58×10⁻¹⁰), DQB1*03:02 (OR  = 0.62, P_Bc  = 1.97×10⁻²), DRB1*15:01 (OR  = 1.68, P_Bc = 1.22×10⁻²) and DRB1*16:02 (OR  = 2.63, P_Bc  = 1.46×10⁻⁵) were associated with GD. HLA-DPB1*05:01 is the major gene of GD in our population and singly accounts for 48.4% of population-attributable risk.

Conclusions/Significance

These GD-associated alleles we identified in ethnic Chinese Hans, and those identified in other Asian studies, are totally distinct from the known associated alleles in Caucasians. Identification of population-specific association alleles is the critical first step for individualized medicine. Furthermore, comparison between different susceptibility/protective alleles across populations could facilitate generation of novel hypothesis about GD pathophysiology and indicate a new direction for future investigation.     

Beh?et’s disease in HLA-B*51 negative Germans and Turks shows association with HLA-Bw4-80I

Introduction

Behçet’s disease (BD) as systemic vasculitis of unknown etiology is associated with HLA-B*51 in European and Asian populations. HLA-A*26 was claimed as an additional BD susceptibility marker in Japanese and Greek patients. This study was performed to test for HLA associations in HLA-B*51 negative German and Turkish BD populations.

Methods

In total, 65 German and 46 Turkish patients lacking HLA-B*51 were analyzed in comparison to healthy HLA-B*51 negative Germans (n = 1500) and Turks (n = 130). HLA-A/B genotypes were determined by SSOP. P-values with correction for multiple testing (p_c), χ2-test and odds ratio (OR) were used for statistical evaluation.

Results

HLA-A*26 was significantly more frequent in HLA-B*51⁻ German patients [p_c = 0.0076, OR = 3.23, 95% CI 1.63 to 6.39] than in respective controls. HLA-A*26 was also elevated in a smaller group of Turkish patients versus the controls. Significant association of HLA-Bw4 with isoleucine at amino-acid position 80 (HLA-Bw4-80I) was found in the HLA-B*51⁻ German cohort of BD patients [p_c = 0.0042, OR = 2.35, 95% CI 1.41 to 3.93) and in the Turkish patients in comparison to the respective controls [p = 0.025, OR = 2.17, 95% CI 1.09 to 4.31]. On the contrary, HLA-Bw4-80 T was reduced in both HLA-B*51⁻ BD patient cohorts.

Conclusions

The study shows a significant association of HLA-Bw4-80I present on HLA-B*51 as well as on other B-locus molecules with BD. This indicates that distinctive Bw4 epitopes on HLA-B locus molecules could play a role in BD pathogenesis. The study also indicates an association with HLA-A*26 in German and Turkish BD patients as a genetic risk factor independent of HLA-B*51.     

High-density SNP mapping of the HLA region identifies multiple independent susceptibility loci associated with selective IgA deficiency

Selective IgA deficiency (IgAD; serum IgA<0.07 g/l) is the most common form of human primary immune deficiency, affecting approximately 1∶600 individuals in populations of Northern European ancestry. The polygenic nature of IgAD is underscored by the recent identification of several new risk genes in a genome-wide association study. Among the characterized susceptibility loci, the association with specific HLA haplotypes represents the major genetic risk factor for IgAD. Despite the robust association, the nature and location of the causal variants in the HLA region remains unknown. To better characterize the association signal in this region, we performed a high-density SNP mapping of the HLA locus and imputed the genotypes of common HLA-B, -DRB1, and -DQB1 alleles in a combined sample of 772 IgAD patients and 1,976 matched controls from 3 independent European populations. We confirmed the complex nature of the association with the HLA locus, which is the result of multiple effects spanning the entire HLA region. The primary association signal mapped to the HLA-DQB1*02 allele in the HLA Class II region (combined P = 7.69×10⁻⁵⁷; OR = 2.80) resulting from the combined independent effects of the HLA-B*0801-DRB1*0301-DQB1*02 and -DRB1*0701-DQB1*02 haplotypes, while additional secondary signals were associated with the DRB1*0102 (combined P = 5.86×10⁻¹⁷; OR = 4.28) and the DRB1*1501 (combined P = 2.24×10⁻³⁵; OR = 0.13) alleles. Despite the strong population-specific frequencies of HLA alleles, we found a remarkable conservation of these effects regardless of the ethnic background, which supports the use of large multi-ethnic populations to characterize shared genetic association signals in the HLA region. We also provide evidence for the location of association signals within the specific extended haplotypes, which will guide future sequencing studies aimed at characterizing the precise functional variants contributing to disease pathogenesis.     

Influence of HLA Class I Haplotypes on HIV-1 Seroconversion and Disease Progression in Pumwani Sex Worker Cohort

We examined the effect of HLA class I haplotypes on HIV-1 seroconversion and disease progression in the Pumwani sex worker cohort. This study included 595 HIV-1 positive patients and 176 HIV negative individuals. HLA-A, -B, and -C were typed to 4-digit resolution using sequence-based typing method. HLA class I haplotype frequencies were estimated using PyPop 32-0.6.0. The influence of haplotypes on time to seroconversion and CD4+ T cell decline to <200 cells/mm³ were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis using SPSS 13.0. Before corrections for multiple comparisons, three 2-loci haplotypes were significantly associated with faster seroconversion, including A*23∶01-C*02∶02 (p = 0.014, log rank(LR) = 6.06, false-discovery rate (FDR) = 0.056), B*42∶01-C*17∶01 (p = 0.01, LR = 6.60, FDR = 0.08) and B*07∶02-C*07∶02 (p = 0.013, LR = 6.14, FDR = 0.069). Two A*74∶01 containing haplotypes, A*74∶01-B*15∶03 (p = 0.047, LR = 3.942, FDR = 0.068) and A*74∶01-B*15∶03-C*02∶02 (p = 0.045, LR = 4.01, FDR = 0.072) and B*14∶02-C*08∶02 (p = 0.021, LR = 5.36, FDR = 0.056) were associated with slower disease progression. Five haplotypes, including A*30∶02-B*45∶01 (p = 0.0008, LR = 11.183, FDR = 0.013), A*30∶02-C*16∶01 (p = 0.015, LR = 5.97, FDR = 0.048), B*53∶01-C*04∶01 (p = 0.010, LR = 6.61, FDR = 0.08), B*15∶10-C*03∶04 (p = 0.031, LR = 4.65, FDR = 0.062), and B*58∶01-C*03∶02 (p = 0.037, LR = 4.35, FDR = 0.066) were associated with faster progression to AIDS. After FDR corrections, only the associations of A*30∶02-B*45∶01 and A*30∶02-C*16∶01 with faster disease progression remained significant. Cox regression and deconstructed Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that the associations of haplotypes of A*23∶01-C*02∶02, B*07∶02-C*07∶02, A*74∶01-B*15∶03, A*74∶01-B*15∶03-C*02∶02, B*14∶02-C*08∶02 and B*58∶01-C*03∶02 with differential seroconversion or disease progression are due to the dominant effect of a single allele within the haplotypes. The true haplotype effect was observed with A*30∶02-B*45∶01, A*30∶02-C*16∶02, B*53∶01-C*04∶01 B*15∶10-C*03∶04, and B*42∶01-C*17∶01. In these cases, the presence of both alleles accelerated the disease progression or seroconversion than any of the single allele within the haplotypes. Our study showed that the true effects of HLA class I haplotypes on HIV seroconversion and disease progression exist and the associations of HLA class I haplotype can also be due to the dominant effect of a single allele within the haplotype.     

Associations of HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 Types with Oral Diseases in Swiss Adults

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are crucial components of host defense against microbial challenge but the associations of HLA types with oral infectious diseases have not been studied in detail. This prospective cross-sectional study examined associations of HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 types with common oral diseases in a healthy Swiss adult population. 257 subjects (107 m, 150 f, mean age: 43.5 yr; range: 21–58 yr) with known HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 profiles and comprehensive medical records were included. A thorough anamnesis was followed by oral examinations including saliva flow measurements, the DMFT score for cariological status, complete periodontal status with plaque and bleeding indexes as well as assessment of mucosal alterations and temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). Student’s t-test and Pearson chi-square test were utilized to compare the oral diseases between HLA positive and negative subjects. Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons was used and P_Bonf<0.05 was considered statistically significant. HLA types -B15 (P_Bonf = 0.002), -B51 (P_Bonf = 0.02) and -DRB1*12 (P_Bonf = 0.02) were associated with less periodontal disease manifestations. HLA-A32 had a positive association with TMD dysfunction (P_Bonf = 0.012). No other statistically significant associations were observed. In conclusion, HLA types may contribute to the development of oral diseases in generally healthy Caucasian adults.     

Oligoclonal Band Status in Scandinavian Multiple Sclerosis Patients Is Associated with Specific Genetic Risk Alleles

The presence of oligoclonal bands (OCB) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a typical finding in multiple sclerosis (MS). We applied data from Norwegian, Swedish and Danish (i.e. Scandinavian) MS patients from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to search for genetic differences in MS relating to OCB status. GWAS data was compared in 1367 OCB positive and 161 OCB negative Scandinavian MS patients, and nine of the most associated SNPs were genotyped for replication in 3403 Scandinavian MS patients. HLA-DRB1 genotypes were analyzed in a subset of the OCB positive (n = 2781) and OCB negative (n = 292) MS patients and compared to 890 healthy controls. Results from the genome-wide analyses showed that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the HLA complex and six other loci were associated to OCB status. In SNPs selected for replication, combined analyses showed genome-wide significant association for two SNPs in the HLA complex; rs3129871 (p = 5.7×10⁻¹⁵) and rs3817963 (p = 5.7×10⁻¹⁰) correlating with the HLA-DRB1*15 and the HLA-DRB1*04 alleles, respectively. We also found suggestive association to one SNP in the Calsyntenin-2 gene (p = 8.83×10⁻⁷). In HLA-DRB1 analyses HLA-DRB1*15∶01 was a stronger risk factor for OCB positive than OCB negative MS, whereas HLA-DRB1*04∶04 was associated with increased risk of OCB negative MS and reduced risk of OCB positive MS. Protective effects of HLA-DRB1*01∶01 and HLA-DRB1*07∶01 were detected in both groups. The groups were different with regard to age at onset (AAO), MS outcome measures and gender. This study confirms both shared and distinct genetic risk for MS subtypes in the Scandinavian population defined by OCB status and indicates different clinical characteristics between the groups. This suggests differences in disease mechanisms between OCB negative and OCB positive MS with implications for patient management, which need to be further studied.     

HLA association with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in southern Tunisia

In order to study the association of HLA-A, -B and/or DRB1, DQB1 and the nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), 141 patients affected with NPC were typed for the HLA class I by serology method of microlymphocytotoxicity. Among these patients 101 were genotyped for HLA class II system by the PCR-SSP technique. HLA typing results were compared to those of 116 controls. We found that the HLA-A31 and -A33 antigens were significantly more expressed in patients than in the controls (P = 0.016 and 0.010, respectively) and the HLA-A19 antigen, was significantly more frequent in patients when compared to the controls (P = 0.007). The HLA-DRB1*03 and DRB1*13 alleles were significantly more frequent in patients as compared to the controls. The DRB1*01 allele was expressed with a frequency of 20.69% in the controls whereas it was only detected in 3.96% of the NPC patients. Furthermore, the DQB1*05 allele was expressed at a frequency which was significantly less important in affected patient (P = 0.03), whereas, the DQB1*02 allele was more frequent in patients (P = 0.643 × 10⁻⁴). Thus our study revealed a significant increase of HLA-A31, A33, A19, B16, B53 and DRB1*03, DRB1*13 and DQB1*02 alleles in our patients. These markers could play a predisposing role in the development of NPC. In contrast, a decrease of HLA-B14, -B35 and DRB1*01 and DQB1*05 alleles was found suggesting a likely protective effect.     

Interaction between HLA-DRB1-DQB1 Haplotypes in Sardinian Multiple Sclerosis Population

We performed a case-control study in 2,555 multiple sclerosis (MS) Sardinian patients and 1,365 healthy ethnically matched controls, analyzing the interactions between HLA-DRB1-DQB1 haplotypes and defining a rank of genotypes conferring a variable degree of risk to the disease. Four haplotypes were found to confer susceptibility (*13∶03-*03∶01 OR = 3.3, Pc 5.1×10⁻⁵, *04∶05-*03∶01 OR = 2.1, Pc 9.7×10⁻⁸, *15∶01-*06∶02 OR = 2.0, Pc = 9.1×10⁻³, *03∶01-*02∶01 OR = 1.7 Pc = 7.9×10⁻²²) and protection (*11, OR = 0.8, Pc = 2.7×10⁻², *16∶01-*05∶02 OR = 0.6, Pc = 4.8×10⁻¹⁶, *14∶01-4-*05∶031 = OR = 0.5, Pc = 9.8×10⁻⁴ and *15∶02-*06∶01 OR = 0.4, Pc = 5.1×10⁻⁴). The relative predispositional effect method confirms all the positively associated haplotypes and showed that also *08 and *04 haplotypes confers susceptibility, while the *11 was excluded as protective haplotype. Genotypic ORs highlighted two typologies of interaction between haplotypes: i) a neutral interaction, in which the global risk is coherent with the sum of the single haplotype risks; ii) a negative interaction, in which the genotypic OR observed is lower than the sum of the OR of the two haplotypes. The phylogenic tree of the MS-associated DRB1 alleles found in Sardinian patients revealed a cluster represented by *14∶01, *04∶05, *13∶03, *08∶01 and *03∶01 alleles. Sequence alignment analysis showed that amino acids near pocket P4 and pocket P9 differentiated protective from predisposing alleles under investigation. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulation performed on alleles revealed that position 70 is crucial in binding of MBP 85–99 peptide. All together, these data suggest that propensity to MS observed in Sardinian population carried by the various HLA-DRB1-DQB1 molecules can be due to functional peculiarity in the antigen presentation mechanisms.     

Genome-Wide Association Study of Breast Cancer in the Japanese Population

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in worldwide including Japan. Several studies have identified common genetic variants to be associated with the risk of breast cancer. Due to the complex linkage disequilibrium structure and various environmental exposures in different populations, it is essential to identify variants associated with breast cancer in each population, which subsequently facilitate the better understanding of mammary carcinogenesis. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) as well as whole-genome imputation with 2,642 cases and 2,099 unaffected female controls. We further examined 13 suggestive loci (P<1.0×10⁻⁵) using an independent sample set of 2,885 cases and 3,395 controls and successfully validated two previously-reported loci, rs2981578 (combined P-value of 1.31×10⁻¹², OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.16–.30) on chromosome 10q26 (FGFR2), rs3803662 (combined P-value of 2.79×10⁻¹¹, OR = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.15–.28) and rs12922061 (combined P-value of 3.97×10⁻¹⁰, OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.15–.31) on chromosome 16q12 (TOX3-LOC643714). Weighted genetic risk score on the basis of three significantly associated variants and two previously reported breast cancer associated loci in East Asian population revealed that individuals who carry the most risk alleles in category 5 have 2.2 times higher risk of developing breast cancer in the Japanese population than those who carry the least risk alleles in reference category 1. Although we could not identify additional loci associated with breast cancer, our study utilized one of the largest sample sizes reported to date, and provided genetic status that represent the Japanese population. Further local and international collaborative study is essential to identify additional genetic variants that could lead to a better, accurate prediction for breast cancer.     

Phenotypic Dissection of Bone Mineral Density Reveals Skeletal Site Specificity and Facilitates the Identification of Novel Loci in the Genetic Regulation of Bone Mass Attainment

Heritability of bone mineral density (BMD) varies across skeletal sites, reflecting different relative contributions of genetic and environmental influences. To quantify the degree to which common genetic variants tag and environmental factors influence BMD, at different sites, we estimated the genetic (r_g) and residual (r_e) correlations between BMD measured at the upper limbs (UL-BMD), lower limbs (LL-BMD) and skull (SK-BMD), using total-body DXA scans of ∼4,890 participants recruited by the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and their Children (ALSPAC). Point estimates of r_g indicated that appendicular sites have a greater proportion of shared genetic architecture (LL-/UL-BMD r_g = 0.78) between them, than with the skull (UL-/SK-BMD r_g = 0.58 and LL-/SK-BMD r_g = 0.43). Likewise, the residual correlation between BMD at appendicular sites (r_e = 0.55) was higher than the residual correlation between SK-BMD and BMD at appendicular sites (r_e = 0.20–0.24). To explore the basis for the observed differences in r_g and r_e, genome-wide association meta-analyses were performed (n∼9,395), combining data from ALSPAC and the Generation R Study identifying 15 independent signals from 13 loci associated at genome-wide significant level across different skeletal regions. Results suggested that previously identified BMD-associated variants may exert site-specific effects (i.e. differ in the strength of their association and magnitude of effect across different skeletal sites). In particular, variants at CPED1 exerted a larger influence on SK-BMD and UL-BMD when compared to LL-BMD (P = 2.01×10⁻³⁷), whilst variants at WNT16 influenced UL-BMD to a greater degree when compared to SK- and LL-BMD (P = 2.31×10⁻¹⁴). In addition, we report a novel association between RIN3 (previously associated with Paget''s disease) and LL-BMD (rs754388: β = 0.13, SE = 0.02, P = 1.4×10⁻¹⁰). Our results suggest that BMD at different skeletal sites is under a mixture of shared and specific genetic and environmental influences. Allowing for these differences by performing genome-wide association at different skeletal sites may help uncover new genetic influences on BMD.     

A Large Scale Gene-Centric Association Study of Lung Function in Newly-Hired Female Cotton Textile Workers with Endotoxin Exposure

Background

Occupational exposure to endotoxin is associated with decrements in pulmonary function, but how much variation in this association is explained by genetic variants is not well understood.

Objective

We aimed to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with the rate of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) decline by a large scale genetic association study in newly-hired healthy young female cotton textile workers.

Methods

DNA samples were genotyped using the Illumina Human CVD BeadChip. Change rate in FEV₁ was modeled as a function of each SNP genotype in linear regression model with covariate adjustment. We controlled the type 1 error in study-wide level by permutation method. The false discovery rate (FDR) and the family-wise error rate (FWER) were set to be 0.10 and 0.15 respectively.

Results

Two SNPs were found to be significant (P<6.29×10⁻⁵), including rs1910047 (P = 3.07×10⁻⁵, FDR = 0.0778) and rs9469089 (P = 6.19×10⁻⁵, FDR = 0.0967), as well as other eight suggestive (P<5×10⁻⁴) associated SNPs. Gene-gene and gene-environment interactions were also observed, such as rs1910047 and rs1049970 (P = 0.0418, FDR = 0.0895); rs9469089 and age (P = 0.0161, FDR = 0.0264). Genetic risk score analysis showed that the more risk loci the subjects carried, the larger the rate of FEV₁ decline occurred (P _trend = 3.01×10⁻¹⁸). However, the association was different among age subgroups (P = 7.11×10⁻⁶) and endotoxin subgroups (P = 1.08×10⁻²). Functional network analysis illustrates potential biological connections of all interacted genes.

Conclusions

Genetic variants together with environmental factors interact to affect the rate of FEV₁ decline in cotton textile workers.     

HIV Control through a Single Nucleotide on the HLA-B Locus

Genetic variation within the HLA-B locus has the strongest impact on HIV disease progression of any polymorphisms within the human genome. However, identifying the exact mechanism involved is complicated by several factors. HLA-Bw4 alleles provide ligands for NK cells and for CD8 T cells, and strong linkage disequilibrium between HLA class I alleles complicates the discrimination of individual HLA allelic effects from those of other HLA and non-HLA alleles on the same haplotype. Here, we exploit an experiment of nature involving two recently diverged HLA alleles, HLA-B*42:01 and HLA-B*42:02, which differ by only a single amino acid. Crucially, they occur primarily on identical HLA class I haplotypes and, as Bw6 alleles, do not act as NK cell ligands and are therefore largely unconfounded by other genetic factors. We show that in an outbred cohort (n = 2,093) of HIV C-clade-infected individuals, a single amino acid change at position 9 of the HLA-B molecule critically affects peptide binding and significantly alters the cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes targeted, measured directly ex vivo by gamma interferon (IFN-γ) enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay (P = 2 × 10⁻¹⁰) and functionally through CTL escape mutation (P = 2 × 10⁻⁸). HLA-B*42:01, which presents multiple Gag epitopes, is associated with a 0.52 log₁₀ lower viral-load set point than HLA-B*42:02 (P = 0.02), which presents no p24 Gag epitopes. The magnitude of this effect from a single amino acid difference in the HLA-A*30:01/B*42/Cw*17:01 haplotype is equivalent to 75% of that of HLA-B*57:03, the most protective HLA class I allele in this population. This naturally controlled experiment represents perhaps the clearest demonstration of the direct impact of a particular HIV-specific CTL on disease control.     

Association of Increased Frequencies of HLA-DPB1*05∶01 with the Presence of Anti-Ro/SS-A and Anti-La/SS-B Antibodies in Japanese Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients

Introduction

Autoantibodies to ribonucleoprotein are associated with a variety of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Many studies on associations between human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and RA have been reported, but few have been validated in RA subpopulations with anti-La/SS-B or anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies. Here, we investigated associations of HLA class II alleles with the presence of anti-Ro/SS-A or anti-La/SS-B antibodies in RA.

Methods

An association study was conducted for HLA-DRB1, DQB1, and DPB1 in Japanese RA and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients that were positive or negative for anti-Ro/SS-A and/or anti-La/SS-B antibodies.

Results

An increased prevalence of certain class II alleles was associated with the presence of anti-Ro/SS-A antibodies as follows: DRB1*08∶03 (Pc = 3.79×10⁻⁵, odds ratio [OR] 3.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.98–4.73), DQB1*06∶01 (Pc = 0.0106, OR 1.70, 95%CI 1.26–2.31), and DPB1*05∶01 (Pc = 0.0040, OR 1.55, 95%CI 1.23–1.96). On the other hand, DRB1*15∶01 (Pc = 0.0470, OR 3.14, 95%CI 1.63–6.05), DQB1*06∶02 (Pc = 0.0252, OR 3.14, 95%CI 1.63–6.05), and DPB1*05∶01 (Pc = 0.0069, OR 2.27, 95% CI 1.44–3.57) were associated with anti-La/SS-B antibodies. The DPB1*05∶01 allele was associated with anti-Ro/SS-A (Pc = 0.0408, OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.19–2.41) and anti-La/SS-B antibodies (Pc = 2.48×10⁻⁵, OR 3.31, 95%CI 2.02–5.43) in SLE patients.

Conclusion

HLA-DPB1*05∶01 was the only allele associated with the presence of both anti-Ro/SS-A and anti-La/SS-B antibodies in Japanese RA and SLE patients.     

Susceptibility Loci Associated with Specific and Shared Subtypes of Lymphoid Malignancies

The genetics of lymphoma susceptibility reflect the marked heterogeneity of diseases that comprise this broad phenotype. However, multiple subtypes of lymphoma are observed in some families, suggesting shared pathways of genetic predisposition to these pathologically distinct entities. Using a two-stage GWAS, we tested 530,583 SNPs in 944 cases of lymphoma, including 282 familial cases, and 4,044 public shared controls, followed by genotyping of 50 SNPs in 1,245 cases and 2,596 controls. A novel region on 11q12.1 showed association with combined lymphoma (LYM) subtypes. SNPs in this region included rs12289961 near LPXN, (P_LYM = 3.89×10⁻⁸, OR = 1.29) and rs948562 (P_LYM = 5.85×10⁻⁷, OR = 1.29). A SNP in a novel non-HLA region on 6p23 (rs707824, P_NHL = 5.72×10⁻⁷) was suggestive of an association conferring susceptibility to lymphoma. Four SNPs, all in a previously reported HLA region, 6p21.32, showed genome-wide significant associations with follicular lymphoma. The most significant association with follicular lymphoma was for rs4530903 (P_FL = 2.69×10⁻¹², OR = 1.93). Three novel SNPs near the HLA locus, rs9268853, rs2647046, and rs2621416, demonstrated additional variation contributing toward genetic susceptibility to FL associated with this region. Genes implicated by GWAS were also found to be cis-eQTLs in lymphoblastoid cell lines; candidate genes in these regions have been implicated in hematopoiesis and immune function. These results, showing novel susceptibility regions and allelic heterogeneity, point to the existence of pathways of susceptibility to both shared as well as specific subtypes of lymphoid malignancy.     

Genome Wide Analysis of Narcolepsy in China Implicates Novel Immune Loci and Reveals Changes in Association Prior to Versus After the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic

Previous studies in narcolepsy, an autoimmune disorder affecting hypocretin (orexin) neurons and recently associated with H1N1 influenza, have demonstrated significant associations with five loci. Using a well-characterized Chinese cohort, we refined known associations in TRA@ and P2RY11-DNMT1 and identified new associations in the TCR beta (TRB@; rs9648789 max P = 3.7×10⁻⁹ OR 0.77), ZNF365 (rs10995245 max P = 1.2×10⁻¹¹ OR 1.23), and IL10RB-IFNAR1 loci (rs2252931 max P = 2.2×10⁻⁹ OR 0.75). Variants in the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)- DQ region were associated with age of onset (rs7744020 P = 7.9×10⁻⁹ beta −1.9 years) and varied significantly among cases with onset after the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic compared to previous years (rs9271117 P = 7.8×10⁻¹⁰ OR 0.57). These reflected an association of DQB1*03:01 with earlier onset and decreased DQB1*06:02 homozygosity following 2009. Our results illustrate how genetic association can change in the presence of new environmental challenges and suggest that the monitoring of genetic architecture over time may help reveal the appearance of novel triggers for autoimmune diseases.     

Evidence for more than one Parkinson's disease-associated variant within the HLA region

Parkinson''s disease (PD) was recently found to be associated with HLA in a genome-wide association study (GWAS). Follow-up GWAS''s replicated the PD-HLA association but their top hits differ. Do the different hits tag the same locus or is there more than one PD-associated variant within HLA? We show that the top GWAS hits are not correlated with each other (0.00≤r²≤0.15). Using our GWAS (2000 cases, 1986 controls) we conducted step-wise conditional analysis on 107 SNPs with P<10⁻³ for PD-association; 103 dropped-out, four remained significant. Each SNP, when conditioned on the other three, yielded P_SNP1 = 5×10⁻⁴, P_SNP2 = 5×10⁻⁴, P_SNP3 = 4×10⁻³ and P_SNP4 = 0.025. The four SNPs were not correlated (0.01≤r²≤0.20). Haplotype analysis (excluding rare SNP2) revealed increasing PD risk with increasing risk alleles from OR = 1.27, P = 5×10⁻³ for one risk allele to OR = 1.65, P = 4×10⁻⁸ for three. Using additional 843 cases and 856 controls we replicated the independent effects of SNP1 (P_{conditioned-on-SNP4} = 0.04) and SNP4 (P_{conditioned-on-SNP1} = 0.04); SNP2 and SNP3 could not be replicated. In pooled GWAS and replication, SNP1 had OR_{conditioned-on-SNP4} = 1.23, P_{conditioned-on-SNP4} = 6×10⁻⁷; SNP4 had OR_{conditioned-on-SNP1} = 1.18, P_{conditioned-on-SNP1} = 3×10⁻³; and the haplotype with both risk alleles had OR = 1.48, P = 2×10⁻¹². Genotypic OR increased with the number of risk alleles an individual possessed up to OR = 1.94, P = 2×10⁻¹¹ for individuals who were homozygous for the risk allele at both SNP1 and SNP4. SNP1 is a variant in HLA-DRA and is associated with HLA-DRA, DRB5 and DQA2 gene expression. SNP4 is correlated (r² = 0.95) with variants that are associated with HLA-DQA2 expression, and with the top HLA SNP from the IPDGC GWAS (r² = 0.60). Our findings suggest more than one PD-HLA association; either different alleles of the same gene, or separate loci.