HLA tissue antigens in multiple sclerosis

Yaşar Zorlu, Fadime Güven, Serdar Kesken, Füsun Karaaslan, Halis Gügül

The cause of multiple sclerosis (MS) remains uncertain but it is currently widely believed that a T cell-mediated autoimmune response directed at myelin antigens is responsible. For this reason studies are concantrated on the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) which are coded with major histocompatibility complex (MCH). In this study HLA types of 18 female, 22 male, total 40 patients and 891 healthy controls were determined by the lymphocytotoxicity method. In class I antigens; HLA-A2, HLA B38, B51, B44 and in HLA class II antigens; HLA DR2 and DR4, HLA DQ1, DQ8, DQ7 were significantly increased in MS patients. Results were discussed.