HLA Types and Autoimmune Diseases

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Wed Sep 21, 2011 11:00 pm

I found this on a forum when I was cruising around looking at gene stuff. Don't ask me why, and don't ask me if this is valid. It matches up with the little I already know, so I am tentatively putting it out there as a place maybe to start. if you are curious.

Autoimmune diseases linked to HLA types

Here are a few known or suspected associations between HLA types and autoimmune conditions :

Ankylosing spondylitis (arthritis of the spine and sacroiliac joint) : caused by HLA-B27 in 95% of the cases. The combination HLA-B7/B*2705 heterozygotes exhibited the highest risk for disease.

Celiac disease (gluten allergy) : 95% of all celiacs have HLA-DQ2. 12% have HLA-DQ8.

Diabetes : The HLA types DR2, DR6 and DR11 are protective against Type 1 diabetes. The risk alleles are DR3, DR4 and DQ2.5. DR3 is linked to late-onset, whereas carriers of DR4 are at risk for early-onset Type 1 diabetes. People who carry both DR3 and DR4 types are at the highest risk and will develop diabetes the youngest.

HLA's play a lesser role in Type 2 diabetes. There is a suspected link with HLA-Cw4, DR7, DR11 and DQA1, among others.

Graves' disease : HLA-DR3 plays a significant role in the disease.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis : strongly associated with HLA-DR5.

Lupus : weakly associated with HLA DR3, DR4, DR15 and DQA1.

Multiple Sclerosis : HLA-DRB1*1501 plays a role in the disease.

Myasthenia gravis : the main risk factors are HLA B8 and DR3 with DR1.

Narcolepsy : strongly associated with HLA-DQB1*0602. There is also an association with HLA DR2 and HLA DQ1.

Psoriasis : HLA-Cw*0602 is the main risk factor. HLA DR1 and DR7 may also play a role.

Rheumatoid Arthritis : HLA DR1, DR4, DR5, DR8 and DR12 are associated with the disease at various levels.

Here is the forum link: http://www.eupedia.com/forum/showthread ... e-diseases

Post by **tex** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 9:39 am

Most of that information appears to be correct, though I certainly didn't check out all of them - the ones that I'm familiar with appear to be on target. I'm not sure about those celiac gene percentages, though - most sources seem to consider the percentage of celiacs with a DQ2 gene at approximately 90 to 92%, and the percentage with a DQ8 gene at 8 or 9%, but there are all sorts of numbers out there, bouncing around the internet.

Of course, statistics show that approximately 3% of celiacs don't even have one of those genes.

So obviously, there's a lot that the celiac experts don't know about celiac disease. One would think that they would at least track down the basics, such as the genetics involved.

Thanks for the list. I think we've discussed one or two of those gene associations, in the past - narcolepsy, for example, comes to mind.

Tex

MBombardier · Post by **MBombardier** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 9:48 am

Since you and I have the same gluten-sensitivity genes, Tex, and are on the same thyroid med and amount (!) it looks like we would possibly have the same RA predilection, environmental and other factors aside. The Hashi's gene, which, according to what I was reading is related in some manner to the DQ2 gene, is also apparently associated with RA at some level or another.

Are you my long-lost brother?

Post by **tex** » Thu Sep 22, 2011 10:13 am

LOL. I'm not sure - I already have 5 other brothers and sisters.

I tested negative to thyroid antibodies a couple of years ago, and my RF was also negative.

Tex

dgshelton · Post by **dgshelton** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 9:39 am

Tex - My daughter went to my endocrinologist because she was having all the typical signs of under active thyroid...weight gain, tired all the time, very moody. Her TSH was normal and she tested negative for anti-thyroid antibodies. The dr. put her on thyroid meds anyway because of my history with hashi's. I'm going to ask her next time I see her if she suspected hashi's even without the antibodies. It makes me wonder about all if these antibody tests....including celiac. We know there is a flaw in the celiac testing. Could there be a flaw also in other tests?

Hugs,

Post by **tex** » Fri Sep 23, 2011 11:03 am

Denise,

There certainly seems to be something wrong with the tests. Doctors worship those test results as if they were chiseled on tablets of stone, but most doctors seem to only worry about the TSH result. Before I started taking a thyroid supplement, my TSH was normal, but my Free T4 was low. My doc didn't see anything wrong with that, (since the TSH was midrange), but he agreed to let me try a supplement. After I started taking a supplement, as the dose is increased, my TSH comes down, (on 60 mg of Armour, it's slightly over 1), but my T3, T4 and Free T4 all remain either barely in the "normal" range, or below range. Something is obviously out of kilter.

My HPA axis numbers all checked out in the normal ranges, also.

Hugs,
Tex