Sarcoidosis and Autoimmunity: Evidence of Differential Associations with HLA Class II Markers

• A high frequency of endocrine autoimmunity and gastrointestinal immune reactivity has been reported in sarcoidosis. The aim of the present study was to determine the immunogenetic background of sarcoidosis focusing on the associated autoimmune manifestations. Materials and Methods: A total of 66 (38 males, 28 females) and /65 (37 males, 28 females) Caucasian patients with documented sarcoidosis diagnosed at the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Malmö University Hospital were genomically typed for DRB1/DQB1. Results: The frequencies of HLA-DRB1*02 (p=0.004), DRB1*14 (p=0.022), DQB1*0602 (p=0.027), DQB1*0503 (p=0.022), were significantly increased in the whole group of patients with sarcoidosis as well as in sarcoidosis associated with autoimmune manifestations compared to healthy controls. Conclusions: Significant associations of HLADRB1* 02 and *14 and DQB1*0602 and *0503 with sarcoidosis were found, particularly apparent in the subgroup with associated autoimmune manifestations. Different immunogenetic profiles may thus exist in sarcoidosis indicative and/or causative of distinct clinical subgroups. HLA class II presentation of a putative sarcoidosisspecific antigen might be of vital importance in sarcoidosis, deciding the direction of the sarcoid disease and eventual associations with it. Whether the above mentioned HLA class II haplotypes and/or their linked genes, alone or in unison with HLA class I, are organ- or diseasespecific remains to be determined.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Sarcoidosis

Thyroid

Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndromes

HLA

Autoimmunity

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