[Close]
This page was created by volunteers like you!
Help us make it even better. To learn more about contributing to MEpedia, click here.
Join the movement
Visit #MEAction to find support or take action. Donate today to help us improve and expand this project.
Congratulations!
MEpedia has got over 30 million views as of August 2022!

Human leukocyte antigen genes

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

The Human Leukocyte Antigen genes or HLA genes or HLA alleles are a classes of genes created by the human leukocyte antigen proteins. HLA genes help the "immune system distinguish the body's own proteins from proteins made by foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria".[1][2] It is the human version of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), which is also found in certain non-human species.[1] HLA associations are considered "hallmarks of autoimmune disease".[3]

HLA class I genes[edit | edit source]

In humans the main classes are are:

The class I proteins produced from these genes are found on the surface of almost all cells, and display these protein fragments (peptides) to the immune system. The immune system then identifies any proteins it recognizes as foreign (such as viral or bacterial peptides), and triggers the destruction of the cell.[1]

HLA class II genes[edit | edit source]

In humans the main classes are:

Other classes found in humans include HLA-DQ3, which Lande et al. (2020) found to have the strongest association with ME/CFS, based on timeout review of previously published research.[3]

ME/CFS[edit | edit source]

Lande et al. (2020) found two HLA associations that were more common in people with ME/CFS, with 19.2% of ME/CFS patients carrying one of the two HLA associations identified, compared to 12.2% of the control group.[3] The HLA associations more common in ME/CFS patients were HLA-C*07:04 and HLA-DQB1*03:03.[3] The 426 ME/CFS patients in the study met the Canadian Consensus Criteria for ME/CFS, except for four who met the International Consensus Criteria for ME.[3]

A small Norwegian trial found patients positive for HLA-DQB1*03:03 and/or HLA-C*07:04 were more likely to respond to cyclophosphamide than patients without those alleles, 83 vs. 43%.[4]

A much larger Norway study the following year by Hajdarevic found further HLA associations in over 400 patients meeting the Canadian Consensus Criteria for ME/CFS.[5]

Notable studies[edit | edit source]

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Genetics Home Reference. "Histocompatibility complex". Genetics Home Reference. Archived from the original on April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  2. ↑ Merrian-Webster Dictionary. "Definition of HUMAN LEUKOCYTE ANTIGEN". Merrian-Webster Dictionary. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  3. ↑ Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Lande, Asgeir; Fluge, Øystein; Strand, Elin B.; Flåm, Siri T.; Sosa, DaysiD.; Mella, Olav; Egeland, Torstein; Saugstad, OlaD.; Lie, Benedicte A. (March 24, 2020). "Human Leukocyte Antigen alleles associated with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS)". Scientific Reports. 10 (1): 1–8. doi:10.1038/s41598-020-62157-x. ISSN 2045-2322.
  4. ↑ Jump up to: 4.0 4.1 Rekeland, Ingrid G.; Fosså, Alexander; Lande, Asgeir; Ktoridou-Valen, Irini; Sørland, Kari; Holsen, Mari; Tronstad, Karl J.; Risa, Kristin; Alme, Kine; Viken, Marte K.; Lie, Benedicte K.; Dahl, Olav; Mella, Olav; Fluge, Øystein (2020). "Intravenous Cyclophosphamide in Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. An Open-Label Phase II Study". Frontiers in Medicine. 7 (162). doi:10.3389/fmed.2020.00162. ISSN 2296-858X.
  5. ↑ Jump up to: 5.0 5.1 Hajdarevic, Riad; Lande, Asgeir; Rekeland, Ingrid; Rydland, Anne; Strand, Elin B.; Sosa, DaisyD.; Creary, Lisa E; Mella, Olav; Egeland, Torstein (November 1, 2021). "Fine mapping of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) suggests involvement of both HLA class I and class II loci". Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 98: 101–109. doi:10.1016/j.bbi.2021.08.219. ISSN 0889-1591.

human leukocyte antigen complex (HLA) - A set of genes responsible for a given person's immune response to potential threats. Specifically, HLA genes encode proteins which help the immune system to distinguish the body's own proteins from proteins which are made by foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. The HLA complex can vary greatly from person to person, generating unique immune and allergic responses. (Learn more: mecfsresearchreview.me)

Canadian Consensus Criteria (CCC) - A set of diagnostic criteria used to diagnose ME/CFS, developed by a group of practicing ME/CFS clinicians in 2003. The CCC is often considered to be the most complex criteria, but possibly the most accurate, with the lowest number of patients meeting the criteria. Led to the development of the International Consensus Criteria (ICC) in 2011.

myalgic encephalomyelitis (M.E.) - A disease often marked by neurological symptoms, but fatigue is sometimes a symptom as well. Some diagnostic criteria distinguish it from chronic fatigue syndrome, while other diagnostic criteria consider it to be a synonym for chronic fatigue syndrome. A defining characteristic of ME is post-exertional malaise (PEM), or post-exertional neuroimmune exhaustion (PENE), which is a notable exacerbation of symptoms brought on by small exertions. PEM can last for days or weeks. Symptoms can include cognitive impairments, muscle pain (myalgia), trouble remaining upright (orthostatic intolerance), sleep abnormalities, and gastro-intestinal impairments, among others. An estimated 25% of those suffering from ME are housebound or bedbound. The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies ME as a neurological disease.

Retrieved from "https://me-pedia.org/w/index.php?title=Human_leukocyte_antigen_genes&oldid=237989"