MICA-A5.1 allele is associated with atypical forms of celiac disease in HLA-DQ2-negative patients

• Published in: Immunogenetics (New York) 2002-02, Vol.53 (10-11), p.989-991
• Main Authors: Lopez-Vazquez, Antonio, Rodrigo, Luis, Fuentes, Dolores, Riestra, Sabino, Bousoño, Carlos, Garcia-Fernandez, Sonia, Martinez-Borra, Jesús, Gonzalez, Segundo, Lopez-Larrea, Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Alleles; Celiac Disease - genetics; Celiac Disease - immunology; Child; Digestive System - immunology; Digestive System - metabolism; Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics; histocompatibility antigen HLA; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - genetics; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - immunology; HLA; HLA-B Antigens - genetics; HLA-DQ Antigens - genetics; HLA-DQ Antigens - immunology; Humans; MICA gene
• ISSN: 0093-7711; 1432-1211
• DOI: 10.1007/s00251-001-0413-9

We selected 38 consecutive celiac disease (CD) patients (from a group of 316 consecutive CD patients) and 91 healthy blood donors, all of whom were HLA-DQ2 (DQA1*0501/DQB1*0201) negative, and investigated the presence of the classically associated alleles HLA-DQ8 and HLA-DRB4. We also studied the distribution of MICA transmembrane alleles in the two clinical forms of the disease. For this reason, these 38 DQ2-negative patients were subdivided into two groups: 18 typical CD patients and 20 atypical CD patients. No differences were found in the distribution of the DRB4 allele between DQ2-negative patients and controls. The HLA-DQ8 heterodimer (DQA1*03xx/DQB1*0302) was increased in CD patients (29%) compared with controls (10%), but no statistical differences were found. No differences were observed in the frequency of these alleles between either group of CD DQ2-negative patients. MICA-A5.1 was increased in atypical CD patients when compared with the typical forms of disease ( P(c)=0.03) and with healthy controls (P(c)=0.002). No other MICA allele was found to be significantly increased in the groups under study. The presence of MICA-A5.1 in atypical CD DQ2-negative patients may indicate a possible role of this allele in the development of CD.