Influence of HLA Class II Alleles and DRB1-DQB1 Haplotypes on Rheumatoid Arthritis Susceptibility and Autoantibody Status in the Chinese Han Population

Associations between HLA class II alleles and IgE sensitization to allergens in the Qatar Biobank cohort

Background

Allergic disorders are the consequence of IgE sensitization to allergens. Population studies have shown that certain human leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles are associated with increased or decreased risk of developing allergy.

Objective

We aimed to characterize the relationship between HLA class II allelic diversity and IgE sensitization in an understudied Arab population.

Methods

We explored associations between IgE sensitization to 7 allergen mixes and mesquite (comprising 41 food or aeroallergens) and 45 common classical HLA class II alleles in a well-defined cohort of 797 individuals representing the general adult population of Qatari nationals and long-term residents. To do so, we performed HLA calling from whole genome sequencing data at 2-field resolution using 2 independent algorithms. We then applied 3 different regression models to assess either each allergen mix independently, in the context of IgE sensitization to other allergens tested, or polysensitization.

Results

More than half (n = 447) of the study participants showed IgE sensitization to at least 1 allergen, most of them (n = 400) to aeroallergens (Phadiatop). We identified statistically significant negative and positive associations with 24 HLA class II alleles. These have been reported to confer risk or protection from variety of diseases; however, only a few have previously been associated with allergy in other populations.

Conclusions

Our study reveals several new risk and protective genetic markers for allergen-specific IgE sensitization. This is a first and essential step toward a better understanding of the origins of allergic diseases in this understudied population.

Ultra-Low Dose Cytokines in Rheumatoid Arthritis, Three Birds with One Stone as the Rationale of the 2LARTH® Micro-Immunotherapy Treatment

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) are two cytokines involved in the perpetuation of the chronic inflammation state characterizing rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Significant advances in the treatment of this pathology have been made over the past ten years, partially through the development of anti-TNF and anti-IL-1 therapies. However, major side effects still persist and new alternative therapies should be considered. The formulation of the micro-immunotherapy medicine (MIM) 2LARTH^® uses ultra-low doses (ULD) of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-2, in association with other immune factors, to gently restore the body’s homeostasis. The first part of this review aims at delineating the pivotal roles played by IL-1β and TNF-α in RA physiopathology, leading to the development of anti-TNF and anti-IL-1 therapeutic agents. In a second part, an emphasis will be made on explaining the rationale of using multiple therapeutic targets, including both IL-1β and TNF-α in 2LARTH^® medicine. Particular attention will be paid to the ULD of those two main pro-inflammatory factors in order to counteract their overexpression through the lens of their molecular implication in RA pathogenesis.