HLA genotype-clinical phenotype correlations in multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders based on Japan MS/NMOSD Biobank data

Sci Rep. 2021 Jan 12;11(1):607. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-79833-7.

Abstract

HLA genotype-clinical phenotype correlations are not established for multiple sclerosis (MS) and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD). We studied HLA-DRB1/DPB1 genotype-phenotype correlations in 528 MS and 165 NMOSD cases using Japan MS/NMOSD Biobank materials. HLA-DRB1*04:05, DRB1*15:01 and DPB1*03:01 correlated with MS susceptibility and DRB1*01:01, DRB1*09:01, DRB1*13:02 and DPB1*04:01 were protective against MS. HLA-DRB1*15:01 was associated with increased optic neuritis and cerebellar involvement and worsened visual and pyramidal functional scale (FS) scores, resulting in higher progression index values. HLA-DRB1*04:05 was associated with younger onset age, high visual FS scores, and a high tendency to develop optic neuritis. HLA-DPB1*03:01 increased brainstem and cerebellar FS scores. By contrast, HLA-DRB1*01:01 decreased spinal cord involvement and sensory FS scores, HLA-DRB1*09:01 decreased annualized relapse rate, brainstem involvement and bowel and bladder FS scores, and HLA-DRB1*13:02 decreased spinal cord and brainstem involvement. In NMOSD, HLA-DRB1*08:02 and DPB1*05:01 were associated with susceptibility and DRB1*09:01 was protective. Multivariable analysis revealed old onset age, long disease duration, and many relapses as independent disability risks in both MS and NMOSD, and HLA-DRB1*15:01 as an independent risk only in MS. Therefore, both susceptibility and protective alleles can influence the clinical manifestations in MS, while such genotype-phenotype correlations are unclear in NMOSD.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biological Specimen Banks*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Genetic Association Studies*
  • Genotype
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains / genetics*
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multiple Sclerosis / epidemiology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics
  • Multiple Sclerosis / immunology
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology*
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / epidemiology
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / genetics
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / immunology
  • Neuromyelitis Optica / pathology*
  • Phenotype

Substances

  • HLA-DP beta-Chains
  • HLA-DPB1 antigen
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains