HLA-DQB1*0201 homozygosis predisposes to severe intestinal damage in celiac disease

HLA Genotyping in Children With Celiac Disease Allows to Establish the Risk of Developing Type 1 Diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Celiac disease (CD) and type 1 diabetes (T1D) often co-occur and share genetic components in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II region. We aimed to study the usefulness of HLA genotyping in predicting the risk of developing T1D in patients with CD and the temporal relationship between these diseases.

METHODS

A cohort of 1,886 Sardinian patients, including 822 with CD, 1,064 with T1D, and 627 controls, underwent HLA class II typing. Seventy-six of 822 patients with CD were also affected by T1D (CD-T1D), and their HLA genotypes were analyzed for specific HLA associations with CD, T1D, and controls.

RESULTS

High-risk HLA-DQ genotypes, including HLA-DQ2.5/DQ8, -DQ2.5/DQ2.5, and -DQ2.5/DQ2.3, were strongly associated with CD-T1D with frequencies of 34.5%, 15.9%, and 18.8%, respectively. Conversely, certain HLA genotypes associated with CD seemed to confer protection against T1D development. Therefore, HLA genotyping allows for the identification of those patients with CD who might develop T1D. The frequency of patients with CD preceding T1D is higher in younger children than older ones, with implications for the early childhood approach to diabetes prevention.

DISCUSSION

CD is a condition for future T1D development, and specific HLA genotypes can predict this risk. Early screening for celiac autoimmunity and subsequent HLA typing in CD children could help identify those at high risk of T1D, allowing for proactive interventions and immunotherapies to preserve β-cell function. These findings may support the re-evaluation of HLA typing in children with CD.

HLA-DQ genotype distribution and risk evaluation of celiac disease in Northwest China

BACKGROUND

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune small bowel disease. Genetic susceptibility for CD is mainly determined by the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ haplotypes. The risk of CD conferred by HLA genotypes varies geographically and across populations, however, this has not yet been documented in Chinese patients with CD.

AIMS

To investigate the distribution of HLA-DQ and the related risks of CD development in Northwest China.

METHODS

A total of 75 CD patients and 300 healthy individuals were genotyped for HLA-DQ using the Illumina NextSeq, and the relative risks of the different genotypes were evaluated.

RESULTS

In total, 68.00% of CD patients and 21.00% of controls carried HLA-DQ2.5 heterodimers (p < 0.001). We identified four CD risk gradients. Individuals carrying a double dose of DQB1*02 had the highest risk of developing CD (1:16); however, with heterozygosis (DQB1*02:02/DQB1*02:01) having the highest risk (1:9). HLA-DQ2.5 individuals with a single copy of HLA-DQB1*02, in either the cis or trans configuration, were at a medium risk (1:38). Non-DQ2.5 carriers of DQ8 or DQ2.2 were at low risk, while only carriers of DQ7.5 or DQX.5 were at very low risk. Patients with the HLA-DQ2.5 genotype had more severe mucosal damage compared with the HLA-DQ2.5 genotype negative CD patients (70.59% vs. 41.67%, p = 0.016).

CONCLUSION

Genetic susceptibility to CD is highly prevalent in the Northwest Chinese population and the highest risk of developing CD was associated with the DQ2.5/DQ2.2 genotype. The DQ2.5 allele is involved in the severity of mucosal injury.

Review article: Follow-up of coeliac disease

Coeliac disease is a lifelong immune-mediated enteropathy with systemic features associated with increased morbidity and modestly increased mortality. Treatment with a strict gluten-free diet improves symptoms and mucosal damage but is not curative and low-level gluten intake is common despite strict attempts at adherence. Regular follow-up after diagnosis is considered best-practice however this is executed poorly in the community with the problem compounded by the paucity of data informing optimal approaches. The aim of dietary treatment is to resolve symptoms, reduce complication risk and improve quality of life. It follows that the goals of monitoring are to assess dietary adherence, monitor disease activity, assess symptoms and screen for complications. Mucosal disease remission is regarded a key measure of treatment success as healing is associated with positive health outcomes. However, persistent villous atrophy is common, even after many years of a gluten-free diet. As the clinical significance of asymptomatic enteropathy is uncertain the role for routine follow-up biopsies remains contentious. Symptomatic non-responsive coeliac disease is common and with systematic follow-up a cause is usually found. Effective models of care involving the gastroenterologist, dietitian and primary care doctor will improve the consistency of long-term management and likely translate into better patient outcomes. Identifying suitable treatment targets linked to long-term health is an important goal.

Clinicopathological profile of gastrointestinal lymphomas in Kashmir

BACKGROUND

The histological categorization of lymphoma has been a source of controversy for many years for both clinicians and pathologists. Clinicopathologic information of gastrointestinal lymphomas in Indian subcontinent is lacking. We studied histopathological spectrum of Primary Gastrointestinal Lymphomas (PGIL) and attempted to classify the G.I. lymphomas based on the recent WHO classification in to major histological types and immunological categories.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This study was done to evaluate the clinicopathological pattern of 100 cases with a histopathological diagnosis of primary gastrointestinal lymphoma at a tertiary care hospital. All patients of primary gastrointestinal lymphomas were included with the help of medical records over a 11-years period that is, January 2005 to December 2015.

RESULTS

The study included 100 cases (60 males, 40 females; mean age 51.43 years; age range 4.5-90 years). The disease involved stomach in 82 (82%), small intestine in 8 (8%), large bowel and rectum in 8 (8%), gall bladder in 1 (1%) and oesophagus in 1 (1%). 82 (82%) of the 100 cases were Diffuse Large B cell lymphomas; 12 (12%) were Extra Nodal Marginal Zone Lymphomas (ENMZL of MALT type) 2 (2%) IPSID 2 (2%) of Mantle cell lymphoma morphology, 1 (1%) Burkitt's and 1(1%) enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma. The commonest presenting symptom was abdominal pain. 99 (99%) of 100 tumours were classified as B-cell lymphomas immunohistochemically and majority exhibited monoclonal light chain restriction on kappa/lambda staining. In addition; Burkitt's lymphoma showed positivity for CD 10. One tumour (1%) showed positivity for T-cell markers. The data demonstrated that primary GI NHL is more common among males, mainly in their fifth decade. Abdominal pain is the most common presenting symptom, with stomach being the most commonly involved site. Diffuse large cell lymphoma is the most frequent histologic subtype, followed by extranodal marginal-zone B cell lymphoma (MALT type). H. Pylori infection was observed in cases with low grade MALT lymphomas. Striking was the observation of two cases of IPSID (a disease commonly found in Mediterranean countries) and one case of enteropathy associated T cell lymphoma.

CONCLUSION

EGD, imaging, light microscopic examination and immunohistochemical workup for B and T cell markers and staining for light chains to assist documentation of monoclonality are of precise diagnostic value in gastrointestinal lymphomas and form a part of the diagnostic workup.

Low-Risk Human Leukocyte Antigen Genes and Mild Villous Atrophy Typify Celiac Disease With Immunoglobulin A Deficiency

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to establish if in celiac disease (CD) with immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgAD) duodenal histopathology is influenced by human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQB1∗02 alleles dosage. Clinical differences between patients with CD and patients with CD and IgAD (CD-IgAD) were also evaluated.

METHODS

Five hundred and sixteen CD and 16 patients with CD-IgAD, enrolled over the time of 8 years, took part in this study. The severity of duodenal histopathology and frequency of CD at-risk HLA class II genes were compared in patients with CD versus patients with CD-IgAD. HLA class II genotypes were subdivided into two categories of genetic risk: high: HLA-DR3/DR7, -DR3/DR3, -DR4/DR4 -DR3/DR4 and low: HLA-DR5/DR7, -DR3/X, -DR4/X and X/X, where X means neither -DR3 nor -DR4. Then, they were compared with two types of duodenal histopathology: 0, 1, 2 and 3a of mild villous atrophy (MVA) and 3b and 3c of severe villous atrophy (SVA) according to the Marsh-Oberhuber classification. Clinical data concerning gender, number of esophagogastroduodenoscopies (EGDs) and association with other autoimmune diseases were obtained from medical records.

RESULTS

In comparison with CD, CD-IgAD showed an increased frequency of MVA (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, CD-IgAD with MVA showed an increase of HLA low-risk genotypes (P = 0.036) and half HLA-DQ2 heterodimers (P = 0.0443). Interestingly, CD-IgAD demanded an increased number of EGDs to reach the diagnosis of CD (P = 0.0104) and autoimmune liver diseases were more frequent compared to CD (P = 0.0049).

CONCLUSIONS

CD-IgAD is associated with MVA, low-risk HLA class II genes, an increased number of EGDs and autoimmune liver diseases.

Celiac disease in pediatric patients according to HLA genetic risk classes: a retrospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy in which HLA-DQ haplotypes define susceptibility. Our aim was to evaluate if belonging to a certain HLA-DQ class risk could be associated to the clinical, serological and histological presentation of CD.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective observational monocentric study including all 300 patients diagnosed with CD, who underwent HLA typing. Clinical, serological and histological data was collected from clinical records and their association with HLA-DQ class risk was verified through statistical tests.

RESULTS

In our sample mean age at onset was 6.7 ± 4.2 years, with a prevalence of females (n = 183; 61%), typical symptoms (n = 242; 80.6%) and anti-tTG IgA ≥ 100 U/mL (n = 194; 64.7%). Family history was present only in 19% (n = 57) of patients, and it was not significantly associated with any of the clinical and demographical data analyzed or the belonging to a certain HLA-DQ class risk. We found in the male population more frequently a coexistence of CD and atopic syndrome (males: n = 47; 40.2%; females: n = 50; 27.3%; p = 0.020). Early age of onset, instead, was associated with typical symptoms (m = 6.4 ± 4; p = 0.045) and elevated liver enzymes (m = 5 ± 3.8; p < 0.001), while later age of onset was associated with presence of other autoimmune diseases (m = 8.2 ± 4; p = 0.01). We observed statistically significant influences of HLA class risk on antibodies and liver enzymes levels: G1, G4 and G2 classes showed more frequently anti-tTG IgA ≥ 100 U/mL (n = 44; 80%, n = 16; 69.6%, n = 48; 67.6% respectively; p-value = 0.037), and in patients from G2 class we found enhanced liver enzymes (n = 28; 39.4%; p-value = 0.005). HLA class risk was still significantly associated with anti-tTG ≥ 100 (p = 0.044) and with hypertransaminasemia (p = 0.010) after a multiple logistic regression adjusted for the effect of gender, age at onset and family history.

CONCLUSIONS

We failed to prove an association between HLA-DQ genotypes and the clinical features in our CD pediatric patients. Although, our results suggest an effect of the DQB1-02 allele not only on the level of antibodies to tTG, but possibly also on liver involvement.

Determination of High-Resolution HLA-DQB1 Suballeles and IL-17 Polymorphisms in Turkish Pediatric Patients

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune enteropathy in the small intestine caused by gluten intolerance of the patients. The most important genetic disease-related factor is human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ polymorphism. Association between interleukin (IL)-17A expression of CD4+ T cells and various autoimmune diseases has been reported. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2275913) IL-17A and HLA-DQ polymorphisms in Turkish pediatric celiac patients. Study group included 125 pediatric celiac patients with CD and 100 healthy pediatric controls. Deoxyribonucleic acid was isolated from peripheral blood samples. IL-17A polymorphism (rs2275913) was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment polymorphism method. IL-17A polymorphism and low-/high-resolution HLA-DQ results of patients were evaluated. GG and GA genotype frequencies of IL-17A (rs2275913) polymorphism were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the CD patients than the control group. HLA-DQB1*02 and HLA-DQA1*05 alleles were detected in patients, while HLA-DQB1*03 and HLA-DQA1*01 alleles in the control group. Also, when we compared the patient and control groups in terms of HLA-DQ-DR haplotypes, HLA-DQB1*02-DQA1*05-DRB1*03 was found with the relative risk of 42.5 (p < 0.05). As a result of high-resolution HLA-DQB1 typing, DQB1*02:01 and DQB1*03:02 were at high frequency (p < 0.05; in 25 patient group). IL-17A (rs2275913) polymorphism genotype frequency was found to be significant in the patient group compared with the control group. The most common HLA-DQB1 suballele was observed as DQB1*02:01.

The HLA complex and coeliac disease

The Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) has a crucial role in the development and pathogenesis of coeliac disease (CD). The genes HLA-DQA1 and HLA-DQB1, both lying in this region and encoding the HLA-DQ heterodimer, are the main genetic predisposing factors to CD. Approximately 90% of CD patients carry the heterodimer HLA-DQ2.5, leaving only a small proportion of patients with lower risk heterodimers (HLA-DQ8, HLA-DQ2.2 or HLA-DQ7.5). These HLA-DQ molecules act as receptors present in the surface of antigen presenting cells and show high affinity for deamidated gluten peptides, which bind and present to CD4⁺ T cells. This triggers the immunological reaction that evolves into CD. Since specific HLA genetics is present in almost the totality of CD patients, HLA typing has a very high negative predictive value, and it can be used to support diagnosis in specific scenarios. HLA risk has been associated to different CD-related features, such as age at onset, clinical outcomes, antibody levels and grade of histological lesion; but further research is needed. HLA-DQ genotypes have been also suggested to modulate the composition of the gut microbiota.

Is the double gene dose of DQ2.5 or DQ2.5/DQ2.2 an involved factor in the clinical features of celiac disease?

Objectives: Celiac disease (CD) is barely known if the quantitative effect of DQB1*02 (DQ2) double dose in antigen presentation to T-cells has translation into the clinic. For this, we have conducted a case-control study in a cohort of two hundred and nineteen patients with CD. Material and methods: For the control group, individuals were enrolled with single dose of DQ2, carrying DQ2.5 heterodimers in heterozygous state (n = 109). The cases with CD were diving into three groups: cases with overall DQ2 double dose (n = 110), DQ2.5 homozygous (n = 33) and DQ2.5/DQ2.2 heterozygous (n = 77). Prevalence and associations of demographic, laboratory, histological and clinical characteristics between the control group and cases were studied. Results: No differences were found for the total of 16 variables analyzed between the control group and overall DQ2 double dose as well as DQ2.5 homozygous cases. In contrast to DQ2.5/DQ2.2, heterozygous cases presented a protection factor for developing allergy to airway allergens regarding the control group (OR = 0.210, p = .019). Conclusions: To date, this negative association has not been described. Further studies will be necessary to elucidate the implication of this protection factor in CD. Since, until now the association between CD and allergic diseases has been poorly studied.

Influence of HLA on clinical and analytical features of pediatric celiac disease

Background

Celiac disease (CD) is triggered by gluten and related prolamines in genetically susceptible individuals. We aimed to investigate the influence of HLA-DQ genotypes in clinical, serological and histological features related to CD.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was performed including 463 Spanish patients with biopsy-proven CD. Clinical, serological, histological and HLA-DQ genetic data were collected from each participant. The presence of a family history of CD was also considered. Bivariate (chi-square tests or the Fisher’s exact test) and multivariate (logistic regression after adjusting for age and sex) analyses were performed to assess the association between clinical and laboratory parameters with HLA-DQ.

Results

A predominance of females (62%), classical clinical presentation (86%) and positive anti-transglutaminase 2/endomysium antibodies (99%) was observed in our sample, with a mean age at onset of 2.6 ± 0.1 years. Five percent of our patients were first-degree relatives of subjects with CD, with HLA-DQ genetics showing increased homozygosity of HLA-DQ2.5 (p = 0.03) and HLA-DQ8 (p = 0.09). In the non-CD family history group, an association between delayed disease onset and HLA-DQ8 carriage was observed (p < 0.001), besides an influence of HLA-DQB1*02 gene dosage on clinical presentation and severity of histological damage (after adjusting for age and sex, p = 0.05 and p = 0.02, respectively) and a trend towards presence of specific antibodies (p = 0.09). These associations could not be evaluated properly in the group of patients with affected first-degree relatives due to the small sample size.

Conclusions

HLA-DQ genotypic frequencies differ slightly between CD patients depending on their family history of CD. In patients lacking CD first-degree relatives, carriage of HLA-DQ2.5 with double dose of HLA-DQB1*02 seems to be associated with classical clinical presentation and more severe histological damage.

HLA-DQ2 homozygosis increases tTGA levels at diagnosis but does not influence the clinical phenotype of coeliac disease: A multicentre study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Magnitude of gluten-specific T-cell responses in coeliac disease (CD) might be dependent on HLA-DQ2 gene dose. We aimed to investigate the effects of HLA-DQB1*02 allele dose on clinical outcomes.

METHODS

We reviewed the charts of all coeliac patients attending to three Hungarian university clinics after 1997 and included those patients, who (a) were diagnosed with CD, (b) underwent high-resolution HLA typing and (c) were ≥18 years at the time of data collection. HLA typing was performed to determine DQB1*02 allele dose. Patients were divided into risk groups by DQB1*02 allele dose, as follows: high-, intermediate- and low-risk groups corresponded to a double, single and zero doses, respectively. We used ANOVA and Pearson's chi-squared test to explore association between HLA risk and clinical variables.

RESULTS

A total of 727 coeliac patients attended the clinics but only 105 (14.4%) patients were eligible for inclusion. High, intermediate and low HLA risk patients comprised 35.3%, 52.3% and 12.3% of the study population, respectively. Double dose of HLA-DQB1*02 was more frequent in patient with high tTGA level (>10 times the upper limit of normal; p = 0.045). Gene dose was not associated with younger age at diagnosis (p = 0.549), gender (p = 0.739), more severe diagnostic histology (p = 0.318), more frequent classical presentation (p = 0.846), anaemia (p = 0.611), metabolic bone disease (p = 0.374), dermatitis herpetiformis (p = 0.381) and autoimmune diseases (p = 0.837).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows a significant gene dose effect in terms of tTGA level at diagnosis, but no significant association between HLA-DQB1*02 allele dose and the clinical outcomes in CD.

Classical celiac disease is more frequent with a double dose of HLA-DQB1*02: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Background and aims

Experimental data suggest that the HLA-DQ2 gene dose has a strong quantitative effect on clinical outcomes and severity of celiac disease (CD). We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis with systematic review to investigate the association between HLA-DQB1*02 gene doses and the characteristics of CD.

Methods

We searched seven medical databases for studies discussing HLA-DQB1 gene dose in CD and various disease characteristics, such as clinical presentation, histology, age at diagnosis, and comorbidities. Odds ratios (OR, for categorical variables) and weighted mean differences (for age) were calculated to compare patients with a double dose of HLA-DQB1*02 versus those with single and zero doses. Heterogeneity was tested with I²-statistics and explored by study subgroups (children and adults).

Results

Twenty-four publications were eligible for meta-analysis. Classical CD was more frequent with a double versus single dose of the HLA-DQB1*02 allele (OR = 1.758, 95%CI: 1.148–2.692, I² = 0.0%). In pediatric studies, gene dose effect was more prominent (OR = 2.082, 95%CI: 1.189–3.646, I² = 0.0% and OR = 3.139, 95%CI: 1.142–8.630, I² = 0.0% for the comparisons of double versus single and double versus zero dose, respectively). Atrophic histology was more prevalent with a double versus zero dose (OR = 2.626, CI: 1.060–6.505, I² = 21.3%). We observed no gene dose effect regarding diarrhea, age at diagnosis, the severity of villous atrophy, and the association with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion

A double dose of HLA-DQB1*02 gene seems to predispose patients to developing classical CD and villous atrophy. Risk stratification by HLA-DQB1*02 gene dose requires further clarification due to the limited available evidence.

Association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ and HLA-DQA1/DQB1 alleles with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ and HLA-DQA1/DQB1 alleles with Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (VKH), providing further evidences on the genetic background of this disease.

METHODS

A comprehensive literature search was conducted on the relationship of HLA-DQ and/or HLA-DQA1/DQB1 alleles with VKH through PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, VIP, and databases for grey literature. The last search was in October 2017. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was calculated from extracted data to access the strength of the association between a genotype and VKH.

RESULTS

HLA-DQ4 was confirmed to increase the risk of VKH significantly (OR = 4.63, 95% CI: 1.74-12.31, P = .002), while HLA-DQ1 seemed to reduce VKH occurrence with OR = 0.32 (95% CI: 0.22-0.47, P < .00001). HLA-DQA1*0301-(OR = 4.52, 95% CI: 1.42-14.35, P = .01) and HLA-DQB1*0401-(OR = 23.12, 95% CI: 11.54-46.31, P < .00001) positive patients probably had a rising tendency to suffer from VKH. Alleles including HLA-DQA1*0103, 0401, 0501 and HLA-DQB1*0301, 0402, 0601, 0603 were significant protective genetic factors.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that HLA-DQ4 carriers had a higher risk of VKH and HLA-DQ1 seemed to be protective. People with positive HLA-DQA1*0301 and HLA-DQB1*0401 demonstrated to be more susceptible to VKH. HLA-DQA1*0103, 0401, 0501 and HLA-DQB1*0301, 0402, 0601, 0603 could be potential protectors.

Distinctive HLA-II association with primary biliary cholangitis on the Island of Sardinia

BACKGROUND

The HLA DRB1*08 allele associated with primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) among Caucasians is of low frequency in the Sardinian population.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to type a cohort of PBC patients from the island of Sardinia for HLA class II antigens.

METHODS

Twenty Sardinian patients affected by PBC, 14 with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and 89 healthy controls (HCs) were typed for HLA class II alleles by dot-blot analysis.

RESULTS

The PBC-associated HLA DRB1*08 allele was detected in none of the studied individuals. The DRB1*0301-DQB1*0201 was the prevalent HLA haplotype, detected in 19 (47.5%) out of 40 PBC haplotypes (OR = 3.0; 95% CI 1.5-6.2) and in 11 (39.3%) out of 28 AIH haplotypes (OR = 2.2; 95% CI 0.94-5.0), but in only 41 (23%) out of 178 HC haplotypes. Moreover, PBC patients showed an increased frequency of homozygosity for the DQB1*0201 allele (35% compared with 6.7% of the HCs; OR = 7.5; 95% CI 2.2-25.7). The frequency of the DRB1*11 allele in the PBC group was about half of that seen in the Sardinian HCs (7.5% vs 15.7%) (p = ns).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study confirmed the low frequency of the HLA DRB1*08 allele among Sardinians, either in the general population or PBC patients. The high prevalence of the HLA DRB1*0301-DQB1*0201 haplotype is a distinctive genetic feature of PBC among Sardinians. Our study strengthens the hypothesis that still unknown genetic, epigenetic, and environmental factors must be involved in the pathogenesis of different HLA-associated liver diseases, and it represents a pathfinder that warrants exploration in a future extensive study.

Clinical features of celiac disease: a prospective birth cohort

OBJECTIVES

To investigate clinical features of celiac disease (CD) and their association with risk factors for CD in a genetic risk birth cohort.

METHODS

Children from 6 clinical centers in 4 countries positive for HLA-DR3-DQ2 or DR4-DQ8 were annually screened for tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA) and assessed for symptoms by questionnaires. Associations of symptoms with anthropometrics, known risk factors for CD, tTGA levels, and mucosal lesions in those biopsied were examined.

RESULTS

Of 6706 screened children, 914 developed persistent positive tTGA, 406 underwent biopsies, and 340 had CD. Compared with age-matched tTGA-negative children, those with persistent tTGA were more likely to have symptoms at 2 (34% vs 19%, P < .001) and 3 years of age (28% vs 19%, P = .009) but not at 4 years (27% vs 21%, NS). Z-scores for height, weight, and BMI did not differ between groups. In children with persistent tTGA, having ≥ 1 symptom was associated with family history of CD (odds ratio = 2.59, 95% confidence interval, 1.21-5.57) but not with age, gender, or HLA-DR3-DQ2 homozygosity. At seroconversion, tTGA levels were higher in symptomatic than asymptomatic children (P < .001), in those from CD families (P < .001), and in US participants (P < .001) but not associated with age, gender, or HLA genotype. tTGA levels correlated with severity of mucosal lesions both in symptomatic (r = 0.53, P < .001) and asymptomatic children (r = 0.22, P = .01).

CONCLUSIONS

A majority of children detected with persistent tTGA in screenings are asymptomatic and have normal growth by age 4 years. tTGA levels correlate more strongly with severity of mucosal lesions in symptomatic as compared with asymptomatic children.

Clinical Evaluation of Specific Oral Manifestations in Pediatric Patients with Ascertained versus Potential Coeliac Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study

Patients involved on coeliac disease (CD) have atypical symptoms and often remain undiagnosed. Specific oral manifestations are effective risk indicators of CD and for this reason an early diagnosis with a consequent better prognosis can be performed by the dentist. There are not researches analysing the frequency of these oral manifestations in potential coeliac patients. The aim of this study is to investigate the oral hard and soft tissue lesions in potential and ascertained coeliac children in comparison with healthy controls. 50 ascertained children, 21 potential coeliac patients, and 54 controls were recruited and the oral examination was performed. The overall oral lesions were more frequently present in CD patients than in controls. The prevalence of oral soft tissue lesions was 62% in ascertained coeliac, 76.2% in potential coeliac patients, and 12.96% in controls (P < 0.05). Clinical dental delayed eruption was observed in 38% of the ascertained coeliac and 42.5% of the potential coeliac versus 11.11% of the controls (P < 0.05). The prevalence of specific enamel defects (SED) was 48% in ascertained coeliac and 19% in potential coeliac versus 0% in controls (P < 0.05; OR = 3.923). The SED seem to be genetically related to the histological damage and villous atrophy.

Celiac disease patients presenting with anemia have more severe disease than those presenting with diarrhea

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Anemia is considered to be an atypical or silent presentation of celiac disease, compared with the classic presentation with diarrhea. However, little information is available about how these groups compare in terms of disease severity. We compared the severity of celiac disease between patients who present with anemia vs those who present with diarrhea.

METHODS

The study cohort was selected from a database of patients with celiac disease who were evaluated at a tertiary referral center between 1990 and 2011. Severity of celiac disease was assessed by the degree of villous atrophy and clinical and serologic parameters. Patients were compared according to mode of presentation and sex. Multivariable analyses, adjusting for age and sex, were conducted to assess the association between the mode of celiac disease presentation and cholesterol level, bone density, severity of villous atrophy, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and level of anti-tissue transglutaminase.

RESULTS

Of 727 patients, 77% presented with diarrhea and 23% with anemia (92% iron deficient). On multiple regression analysis, presentation with anemia was associated with lower levels of total cholesterol (P = .02) and high-density lipoprotein (P = .002) and a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = .001) and level of anti-tissue transglutaminase (P = .01). Presentation with anemia was associated with lower level of cholesterol only in women. Anemic patients were more than 2-fold more likely to have severe villous atrophy and a low bone mass density at the time they were diagnosed with celiac disease than patients who presented with diarrhea.

CONCLUSIONS

Celiac disease patients who present with anemia have more severe disease than those who present with diarrhea. There also appear to be sex-specific differences with regard to the association between anemia and the different features of celiac disease.

Oral Signs and HLA-DQB1∗02 Haplotypes in the Celiac Paediatric Patient: A Preliminary Study

Celiac disease (CD) diagnosis can be extremely challenging in the case of atypical patterns. In this context, oral signs seem to play a decisive role in arousing suspicion of these forms of the disease. At the same time, the different expressions of the HLA-DQB1∗02 allele apparently seem to facilitate the interpretation of signs and highlighted symptoms. The aim of this work was to verify whether it is possible to identify a correlation between the development of oral signs and different DQ2 haplotypes in celiac pediatric patients. 44 celiac patients with a medium age of 9.9 were studied. Oral examinations were performed in order to identify recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) and dental enamel defects (DED). The diagnosis of DED resulted as being related to allele expression (P value = 0.042) while it was impossible to find a similar correlation with RAS. When both oral signs were considered, there was an increase in correlation with HLA-DQB1∗02 expression (P value = 0.018). The obtained results identified both the fundamental role that dentists can play in early diagnosis of CD, as well as the possible role of HLA haplotype analysis in arousing suspicion of atypical forms of the disease.

Serology in adults with celiac disease: limited accuracy in patients with mild histological lesions

Celiac disease (CD) is a gluten-triggered enteropathy, presenting with insidious clinical patterns. It can occasionally be diagnosed in asymptomatic subjects. Our aim was to define the relationship among symptoms at diagnosis, serological markers [tissue transglutaminase antibodies (tTGA), anti-endomysium antibodies (EMA) anti-actin antibodies (AAA)] and degree of mucosal damage. A total of 68 consecutive adult patients with CD were enrolled. Intestinal biopsies were scored according to the Marsh classification modified by Oberhuber: I-II minimal lesions or absent villous atrophy; IIIA partial villous atrophy; IIIB-C total villous atrophy (TVA). HLA-typing was done for all patients. No association between clinical presentation and severity of mucosal damage was found. Presence of EMA or tTGA was significantly associated with more severe mucosal damage (P < 0.001). Of 12 patients, 11 with AAA were also positive for TVA. The severity of mucosal damage is the main factor governing the detectability of serological markers of CD. The sensitivity of serological testing is questionable in patients with minimal lesions.

Influence of HLA-DQ2 and DQ8 on severity in celiac Disease

BACKGROUND

HLA-DQB1*02 homozygosity was shown to be more common in patients with complicated rather than uncomplicated celiac disease (CD).

GOALS

To study HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 profile in adult patients with different forms of CD, including patients with complicated and potential CD, the most affected and the most preserved histologic end of the pathologic celiac spectrum.

STUDY

HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 molecular typing was performed in 218 adult CD patients (169 with uncomplicated CD, 27 with complicated CD, and 22 with potential CD) and 224 healthy stem cell donors. HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 gene polymorphism was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers and/or reverse polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotides techniques.

RESULTS

As expected, the frequency of HLA-DQB1*02 allele, DQB1*02 homozygosity, and DQB1*0302 gene were statistically different in the 4 groups. However, multivariate analysis demonstrated that patients with potential CD have a higher frequency of both HLA-DQB1*0302 and HLA-DQB1*0603 alleles and a reduced frequency of DQB1*02 homozygosity compared with patients with uncomplicated and complicated CD.

CONCLUSIONS

The increased frequency of DQB1*0302 and the reduced frequency of DQB1*02 homozygosity in potential CD is consistent with the idea that different clinical/pathologic evolutions might be related to different immunogeneses. This could be clinically relevant in the future.

HLA-DQB1 Haplotypes and their Relation to Oral Signs Linked to Celiac Disease Diagnosis

Objectives:

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder that can be divided into typical and atypical forms. Atypical forms can show extraintestinal manifestations among which oral signs are very frequent. Considering that the pathogenesis of CD is related to a positivity to specific HLA-DQB1 haplotypes, we tested whether the presence of the HLA-DQB1*02 allele could be a hypothetical cause of the development of oral manifestations.

Subjects and Methods:

For this study was been examined the oral condition of 98 Sardinian patients, all affected by CD and all on a gluten-free diet for at least 1 year. Then was been determined each patient’s HLA-DQB1 haplotype and compared these results with clinical information.

Results:

The statistical analysis evidenced that the absence of the HLA-DQB1*02 allele predisposes to oral manifestations such as dental enamel defects (DED) and recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) (Pvalue=5.98x10^-05, OR = 0.23, CI: (0.10 - 0.45) per each copy of the HLA allele).

Conclusions:

These results showed that the presence of the HLA-DQB1*02 allele influences the development of oral signs in a dose-dependent manner and also how the HLA haplotype connected to oral signs could have a fundamental role for the diagnosis of atypical forms of CD.

Amerindian mtDNA haplogroups and celiac disease risk HLA haplotypes in mixed-blood Latin American patients

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Risk haplotypes have been described in celiac disease (CD), but the influence of native genes on CD in Hispanic Americans is unknown. The aim of the study was to measure the frequency of Amerindian mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups (inherited by the maternal line) in mixed-blood patients with CD from Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay, and to assess the relation between these and human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and haplotypes and clinical presentations.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinical history, histological data, and genetic studies were conducted following 2 protocols: a case-control study of 72 Chilean patients with CD and controls, and an assessment of 43 (additional) samples of celiac patients from Chile, 96 from Argentina, and 57 from Uruguay, compared with the mtDNA frequency in the corresponding country. HLA typing was performed by a commercial kit, and mtDNA was determined by means of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphisms analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 73.6% of cases had typical presentations. The most frequent HLA alleles were HLA-DQB*201 and 202. No-DQ2/DQ8 HLA haplotypes were found in 7% of cases. mtDNA frequencies for typical Amerindian haplogroups were found in 71% of cases and 64% of controls (P χ2 = 0.016); in the comparative analysis, mtDNA distribution was not different from the figures reported for the respective general country population. No relation was found between haplotypes or haplogroups and clinical presentations.

CONCLUSIONS

mtDNA haplogroups A/B/C/D were frequently found in celiac patients and controls, but no relations appeared between haplogroups, haplotypes, and clinical presentations.

Association of HLA and post-schistosomal hepatic disorder: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Several human genetic variants, HLA antigens and alleles are reportedly linked to post-schistosomal hepatic disorder (PSHD), but the results from these reports are highly inconclusive. In order to estimate overall associations between human genetic variants, HLA antigens, HLA alleles and PSHD, we systematically reviewed and performed a meta-analysis of relevant studies in both post-schistosomal hepatic disorder and post-schistosomal non-hepatic disorder patients. PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, The HuGE Published Literature database, Cochrane Library, and manual search of reference lists of articles published before July 2009 were used to retrieve relevant studies. Two reviewers independently selected articles and extracted data on study characteristics and data regarding the association between genetic variants, HLA antigens, HLA alleles and PSHD in the form of 2×2 tables. A meta-analysis using fixed-effects or random-effects models to pooled odds ratios (OR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were calculated only if more than one study had investigated particular variation. We found 17 articles that met our eligibility criteria. Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma japonicum were reported as the species causing PSHD. Since human genetic variants were only investigated in one study, these markers were not assessed by meta-analysis. Thus, only HLA-genes (a total of 66 HLA markers) were conducted in the meta-analysis. Our meta-analysis showed that human leucocyte antigens HLA-DQB1*0201 (OR=2.64, P=0.018), DQB1*0303 (OR=1.93, P=0.008), and DRB1*0901 (OR=2.14, P=0.002) alleles and HLA-A1 (OR=5.10, P=0.001), A2 (OR=2.17, P=0.005), B5 (OR=4.63, P=0.001), B8 (OR=2.99, P=0.02), and B12 (OR=5.49, P=0.005) serotypes enhanced susceptibility to PSHD, whereas HLA-DQA1*0501 (OR=0.29, P≤0.001) and DQB1*0301 (OR=0.58, P=0.007) were protective factors against the disease. We further suggested that the DRB1*0901-DQB1*0201, DRB1*0901-DQB1*0303 and A1-B8 haplotypes enhanced susceptibility to PSHD, whereas DQA1*0501-DQB1*0301 linkage decreased the risk of PSHD. The result improved our understanding of the association between the HLA loci and PSHD with regard to pathogenic or protective T-cells and provided novel evidence that HLA alleles may influence disease severity.

Contribution of histological, serological, and genetic factors to the clinical heterogeneity of adult-onset coeliac disease

OBJECTIVE

Although the factors predisposing to coeliac disease (CD) are largely understood, it remains unclear what determines the clinical heterogeneity of the disease. The aim of this study was to explore the contribution of histological, serological, and genetic factors to disease presentation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study was designed as a retrospective chart review of 384 unrelated Caucasian patients diagnosed with CD after the age of 16 at a single UK centre.

RESULTS

We found that 8.8% of IgA-competent CD patients were endomysial antibody (EMA)-negative. Compared with the EMA-positive group, EMA-negative CD patients had a lower prevalence of iron deficiency (52.0% versus 72.6%, p=0.03) and Marsh IIIb-c lesions (66.7% versus 85.3%, p=0.03). Histological severity at diagnosis correlated with anaemia (p<0.01), folate deficiency (p<0.01), and iron deficiency (p=0.05), but no other laboratory or clinical features. Compared with human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-DQ2.5-positive patients, those carrying HLA-DQ2.2 were similar in terms of all the characteristics we considered, whereas those carrying HLA-DQ8 had a lower frequency of EMA positivity (62.5% versus 92.6%, p<0.01). The proportion of EMA-positive patients increased with frequency of the HLA-DQB1*0201 allele (76.7% versus 92.3% versus 96.4% for 0 versus 1 versus 2 alleles, p<0.01); no other evidence of a gene-dose effect of HLA-DQB1*0201 was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Histological severity at diagnosis of CD is associated with anaemia and some micronutrient deficiencies, but no other clinical features. The proportion of EMA-positive patients is higher amongst those carrying HLA-DQ2 than in those carrying HLA-DQ8, and is highest in HLA-DQ2 homozygotes. We found no correlation between frequency of the HLA-DQ alleles encoding HLA-DQ2.5 and CD severity.

HLA class II polymorphism in children with coeliac disease in Tunisia: is there any influence on clinical manifestation?

OBJECTIVE

To elucidate the HLA DRB1, DQB1 and DQA1 polymorphism in Tunisian children with typical form of coeliac disease (CD) in comparison with those from mass screening (atypical and silent CD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We recruited three groups: group I: 40 CD children diagnosed according to the ESPGHAN criteria. group II: 40 healthy controls matched with sex, age and geographic origin. group III: 38 CD children coming from mass screening in schoolchildren. HLA class II DRB1, DQB1 and DQA1 alleles were typed by PCR-sequence-specific primer.

RESULTS

Comparing the groups I and II, we found a pronounced increase of the susceptible alleles HLA DRB1*03 (relative risk, RR = 4.18, Pc = 0.001), DQB1*02 (RR = 7.9, Pc<0.0001) and DQA1*0501 (RR = 4.1, Pc = 0.001). As for protective alleles, we detected a high frequency of DRB1*13 (RR = 0.059, Pc = 0.001), DQA1*0102 (RR = 0.071, Pc = 0.009) and DQB1*06 (RR = 0.125, Pc = 0.0042). Haplotype analysis showed that the main combination observed was the conformation of DQ2 (DQA1*0501-DQB1*02) in 36 patients from group I and 30 from group III. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups I and III according to the distribution of the different alleles.

CONCLUSION

We confirmed in this study the high frequency of DQ2 haplotype in CD patients and we identified new protective alleles DRB1*13, DQA1*0102 and DQB1*06. However, HLA polymorphism seems to have no evident impact on clinical outcome of CD.

Phenotypic variance in childhood coeliac disease and the HLA-DQ/DR dose effect

OBJECTIVE

Coeliac disease (CD) is associated with HLA-DQ2 and DQ8. The clinical picture is variable and certain human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DQ/DR combinations have a higher relative risk (RR) for CD than others. Moreover, the HLA-DQ gene-dose effect has an impact on the strength of the gluten-specific T-cell response and thus may correlate with clinical presentation and severity of CD. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between HLA-DQ/DR-based genotypes and the variation in phenotypes of the disease.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 113 non-related Caucasian children clinically diagnosed with CD during the period 1980-2003 with a known HLA type were included in the study. Patients were divided into four categories according to amount of disease expression predisposing to HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8 molecules and the known RR of their HLA-DR/DQ type for CD: high (DR3DQ2 homozygous and DR3DQ2/DR7DQ2), substantial (DR3DQ2/DR5DQ7 and DR5DQ7/DR7DQ2), moderate (DR3DQ2-DR4DQ8 and DR3DQ2/DR*DQ*) and low (DR7DQ2/DR*DQ*, DR4DQ8- DR*DQ* and DR*DQ*- DR*DQ*). The clinical data and HLA genotypes of these patients were compared.

RESULTS

The 113 children were diagnosed with CD at a mean age of 4.6 years and boys were significantly older than girls when diagnosed (p=0.01). RR for having CD was highest for the high HLA-risk group (RR 8.1). With the exception of a greater frequency of abdominal distension and fewer non-gastrointestinal symptoms in the substantial HLA-risk group, there were no significant differences in clinical characteristics or degree of severity of the small-bowel histological findings between the children in the different HLA-risk groups.

CONCLUSION

No correlation was found between disease severity and a double HLA-DQ2 gene dose.

HLA and autoimmune digestive disease: a clinically oriented review for gastroenterologists

OBJECTIVES

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system includes genes involved in graft-vs-host rejection and in immune response. The discovery that HLAs are associated with several diseases led to appealing developments both in basic biomedical research and in clinical medicine, and offered the opportunity to improve the understanding of pathogenesis and classification of diseases, as well as to provide diagnostic and prognostic indicators. The aim of this article is to review the association between HLA alleles and autoimmune digestive disease and its current relationship with modern HLA nomenclature and clinical practice.

METHODS

Articles dealing with the association between HLAs and autoimmune digestive disease (including celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, autoimmune hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis and primary biliary cirrhosis) were searched for using Pubmed and SCOPUS databases from earliest records to January 2008.

RESULTS

The review has provided two sections. In the first, we explain the basic principles of HLA structure, function, and nomenclature, as an introduction to the second section, which describes current associations between HLA alleles and digestive diseases. The clinical implications of each HLA association are critically discussed. Actually, a clinical role for HLA typing is suggested for only a few conditions, e.g., celiac disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The knowledge of current HLA nomenclature and of its association with some digestive diseases such as celiac disease can be useful in clinical practice for diagnostic and prognostic purposes. This can avoid improper HLA typing as well as stressing the need for further studies on other possible clinical applications.

Systematic review: The evidence base for long-term management of coeliac disease

BACKGROUND

While gluten-free diet is an effective treatment for coeliac disease, the need for and goals of long-term management of patients are poorly defined.

AIM

To review systematically the complications and associations of coeliac disease, to identify potential risk factors, to define ways of assessing risk factors and to provide a strategy for management.

METHODS

Review of medical literature from 1975.

RESULTS

There is an increasing list of potential complications and/or conditions associated with coeliac disease, in particular, autoimmune disease, malignancy and bone disease. Risk factors that may predict or influence long-term outcomes include genetic susceptibility, environmental factors predominantly gluten ingestion, persistent small intestinal inflammation/injury and nutritional deficiencies. Genotyping of patients is yet to have an established clinical role in long-term management. Assessment of adherence to the gluten-free diet largely relies upon skilled dietary history, but the ultimate test is duodenal histopathology, which is the only currently established means of assessing healing. Symptoms, serology or other non-invasive means are poor predictors of healing and the likelihood of complications.

CONCLUSION

Evidence (albeit limited) that adherence to a gluten-free diet and mucosal healing prevent and/or ameliorate complications indicates that a planned long-term strategy for follow-up is essential.

Advances in coeliac disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The number of people diagnosed with coeliac disease continues to rise, and this article critically summarizes recent research into the condition.

RECENT FINDINGS

Much work has been focused on clarifying the molecular pathways involving cytokines in coeliac disease. Such work will yield improved understanding of the complex pathogenesis of coeliac disease and novel therapeutic targets.

SUMMARY

The recent literature predominantly focuses on both elucidating the pathogenesis and improving diagnostic strategies for coeliac disease, but further work into the treatment of coeliac disease is needed.