A new HLA extended haplotype containing the A*2910 allele in birdshot retinochoroidopathy: susceptibility narrowed to the HLA molecule itself

Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2010 May;51(5):2525-8. doi: 10.1167/iovs.09-4329. Epub 2009 Dec 3.

Abstract

Purpose: Birdshot retinochoroidopathy (BSRC) is a rare posterior uveitis characterized by distinctive, multiple, hypopigmented choroidal and retinal lesions. Most, if not all, patients are white and share the major histocompatibility antigen HLA-A29. Furthermore, the A*2902 subtype is closely associated with BSRC, and only a very few patients share the A*2901 subtype. Surprisingly, although A*2901 and A*2902 differ only by a single mutation (D102H), studies of microsatellites located near HLA-A have shown that two strong A*2901 and A*2902 extended haplotypes are observed in patients and control subjects. The present study analyzes the HLA-A extended haplotype of two patients who were HLA-A*2910 carriers.

Methods: Among 180 patients who fulfilled internationally defined criteria for the diagnosis of BSRC and who were HLA-A29 subtyped, two patients were found to be HLA-A*2910 carriers. These patients were tested for the microsatellite alleles MOGa, -b, -c, and -e (of the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein [MOG] gene) and D6S265, D6S510, RF, C5_4_5, and D6S105.

Results: Although A*2902 and A*2910 differed by only a single mutation, (E177K) a new A*2910 extended haplotype was found to be distinct from the A*2901 and A*2902 extended haplotypes previously described in patients and control subjects. Among all studied microsatellite markers, no allele was shared by these extended haplotypes.

Conclusions: These results suggest that susceptibility to BSRC is linked to the histocompatibility HLA-A29 molecule itself, although the development of the disease also involves inherited or probably acquired factors not linked to the major histocompatibility complex.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Chorioretinitis / genetics*
  • Female
  • Fluorescein Angiography
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • HLA-A Antigens / genetics*
  • Haplotypes / genetics*
  • Histocompatibility Testing
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / therapeutic use
  • Microsatellite Repeats
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Uveitis, Posterior / genetics*

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • HLA-A Antigens
  • HLA-A*29:10 antigen
  • Immunoglobulins, Intravenous