Amino acid residues in five separate HLA genes can explain most of the known associations between the MHC and primary biliary cholangitis

PLoS Genet. 2018 Dec 3;14(12):e1007833. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007833. eCollection 2018 Dec.

Abstract

Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is a chronic autoimmune liver disease characterised by progressive destruction of intrahepatic bile ducts. The strongest genetic association is with HLA-DQA1*04:01, but at least three additional independent HLA haplotypes contribute to susceptibility. We used dense single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data in 2861 PBC cases and 8514 controls to impute classical HLA alleles and amino acid polymorphisms using state-of-the-art methodologies. We then demonstrated through stepwise regression that association in the HLA region can be largely explained by variation at five separate amino acid positions. Three-dimensional modelling of protein structures and calculation of electrostatic potentials for the implicated HLA alleles/amino acid substitutions demonstrated a correlation between the electrostatic potential of pocket P6 in HLA-DP molecules and the HLA-DPB1 alleles/amino acid substitutions conferring PBC susceptibility/protection, highlighting potential new avenues for future functional investigation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Genes, MHC Class II
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • HLA Antigens / chemistry
  • HLA Antigens / genetics*
  • HLA-C Antigens / genetics
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains / chemistry
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains / genetics
  • HLA-DQ alpha-Chains / genetics
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains / genetics
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains / genetics
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / genetics*
  • Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / immunology*
  • Major Histocompatibility Complex*
  • Models, Genetic
  • Models, Molecular
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
  • Protein Conformation
  • Regression Analysis
  • Static Electricity

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • HLA-C Antigens
  • HLA-DP beta-Chains
  • HLA-DPB1 antigen
  • HLA-DQ alpha-Chains
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains
  • HLA-DQA1 antigen
  • HLA-DQB1 antigen
  • HLA-DRB1 Chains