HLA Genotyping by PCR-SSO in Iraqi Patients with Psoriasis

Background: Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder. Accumulating evidence suggests that human leukocyte antigens (HLA) are involved in its pathogenesis. Aim of the study: To determine the association of HLA-class I and II alleles with the susceptibility to psoriasis. Patients and methods: Thirty psoriatic patients and sixty healthy controls were genotyped for HLA class I and Class II alleles using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotides (PCR-SSO). Results:The present study revealed that the frequencies of HLA- C*12, HLA- C*17, HLA- DRB1*07 and HLA-DQB1*02 were significantly higher among patients as compared to control (P=0.0174; P<0.0001; P=0.0136 and P=0.0004 respectively). On the other hand low frequencies of HLA-C*04 and HLA- DQB1*01 alleles were found in patients when compared with control (P=0.0003 and P=0.0009 respectively). Conclusion:These results may provide an additional evidence for association of the HLA region with psoriasis. In particular this study revealed that HLA- C*12, HLA- C*17, HLA- DRB1*07 and HLA-DQB1*02 alleles may be as a risk factors associated with psoriasis while HLA-C*04 and HLA- DQB1*01 alleles as protective factors.