Differential Frequencies of HLA-DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 Alleles and Haplotypes Are Observed in the Arbovirus-Related Neurological Syndromes

Abstract

Background: We took advantage of the 2015-2016 Brazilian arbovirus outbreak (Zika [ZIKV]/dengue/chikungunya viruses) associated with neurological complications to type HLA-DRB1/DQA1/DQB1 variants in patients exhibiting neurological complications and in bone marrow donors from the same endemic geographical region.

Methods: DRB1/DQA1/DQB1 loci were typed using sequence-specific oligonucleotides. In silico studies were performed using X-ray resolved dimer constructions.

Results: The DQA1*01, DQA1*05, DQB1*02, or DQB1*06 genotypes/haplotypes and DQA1/DQB1 haplotypes that encode the putative DQA1/DQB1 dimers were overrepresented in the whole group of patients and in patients exhibiting peripheral neurological spectrum disorders (PSD) or encephalitis spectrum disorders (ESD). The DRB1*04, DRB1*13, and DQA1*03 allele groups protected against arbovirus neurological manifestation, being underrepresented in whole group of patients and ESD and PSD groups. Genetic and in silico studies revealed that DQA1/DQB1 dimers (1) were primarily associated with susceptibility to arbovirus infections; (2) can bind to a broad range of ZIKV peptides (235 of 1878 peptides, primarily prM and NS2A); and (3) exhibited hydrophilic and highly positively charged grooves when compared to the DRA1/DRB1 cleft. The protective dimer (DRA1/DRB1*04) bound a limited number of ZIKV peptides (40 of 1878 peptides, primarily prM).

Conclusion: Protective haplotypes may recognize arbovirus peptides more specifically than susceptible haplotypes.

Keywords: HLA-DQA1; HLA-DQB1; HLA-DRB1; Brazil; CHIKV; DENV; ZIKV.