Multiple sclerosis: disease modifying therapy and the human leukocyte antigen

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the potential relationship between the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type (class I and II) and the response to several disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: We analyzed clinical data of 87 patients with MS at the beginning and end of each type of DMT including the disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale and Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS). Genotyping of HLA-DRB1, HLA-DPB1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C alleles were identified using high-resolution techniques. Statistical correlation between the HLA type and response to DMTs was done using the initial and final MSSS. Results: Statistical relationships (p < 0.05) were found for only 15 of 245 alleles tested. There was a reduction in the MSSS for patients treated with corticosteroids (DRB1*15:01, DPB1*04:01, DQB1*02:01 and DQB1*03:01), azathioprine (DRB1*03:01, DPB1*04:01, DQB1*03:02, DQB1*06:02, HLA-C*07:02), interferon β-1a 22 mcg (DRB1*11:04, DQB1*03:01 and DQB1*03:02), interferon β-1a 30 mcg (DPB1*02:01, HLA-C*05:01) and interferon β-1b (DQB1*02:01). Conclusion: These findings suggest a few relationships between the HLA and response to DMTs in the disability for some types of HLA class I and II alleles in a specific subset of MS patients.

HLA-DPB1*03 as Risk Allele and HLA-DPB1*04 as Protective Allele for Both Early- and Adult-Onset Multiple Sclerosis in a Hellenic Cohort

“…Additionally, in our Hellenic cohort, the HLA-DP alleles seemed to play an independent role in patients with MS (risk/protective), apart from the HLA-DR alleles, a fact that has to be confirmed in larger cohorts in the future. This could pave the way for the usage of these alleles in patient stratification (carriers and noncarriers)-as already happens with various HLA-DRB1 alleles and especially with the HLA-DRB1*15 allele [4,42]-for many MS characteristics and therapy responses in different DMTs in Caucasian populations [4,42].…”

Pharmacogenetics in multiple sclerosis: the long and winding road ahead of us

“…In the present issue of Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, Werneck et al 2 discuss the personal data of 87 patients with MS, genotyped for HLA-DRB1, HLA-DPB1, HLA-DQB1, HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C alleles. They analyzed the neurological disability outcomes of these patients in relation to their genetic background and the use of specific DMDs.…”