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. 2005 Mar 28;11(12):1862-6.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i12.1862.

Genetic distinctions between autoimmune hepatitis in Italy and North America

Paolo Muratori  1 , Albert-J Czaja, Luigi Muratori, Georgios Pappas, Silvana Maccariello, Fabio Cassani, Alessandro Granito, Rodolfo Ferrari, Vilma Mantovani, Marco Lenzi, Francesco-B Bianchi
Affiliations

Genetic distinctions between autoimmune hepatitis in Italy and North America

Paolo Muratori et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Aim: Our goals were to analyze the known genetic predispositions for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) in AIH Italian population and to compare them with North American counterparts.

Methods: Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) B8, C7, DR3, DR4, DR7, DR11, DR13, DQ2 and the B8-DR3-DQ2 phenotype were determined by microlymphocytotoxicity and polymerase chain reaction in 74 Italian patients (57 with type 1 and 17 with type 2 AIH) and 149 North American patients with type 1 AIH, and in adequate controls.

Results: B8-DR3-DQ2 occurred more frequently in Italian patients with type 1 AIH than in Italian controls (30% vs 7%, P<0.0001), but less frequently than in North American counterparts (30% vs 48%, P = 0.02). DR4 occurred less frequently in Italian patients with type 1 AIH (23% vs 43%, P = 0.01) and in controls (16% vs 34%, P = 0.0003) than in North American counterparts. No differences were found in alleles' frequency between type 1 and type 2 Italian AIH patients. DR11 had a frequency lower in type 1 Italian AIH patients than controls (17% vs 35%, P = 0.01).

Conclusion: HLA DR4 is not associated with AIH in Italy. The known HLA risk factors for AIH occur similarly in Italian patients with type 1 and type 2 AIH, and they are less frequent than in North American patients. B8-DR3-DQ2 is the predominant phenotype of type 1 AIH also in Italy, and HLA DR11 may be a regionally distinctive protective factor against type 1 AIH.

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