OBJECTIVETo explore the relationship between the polymorphism of HLA-DRB1*, DQB* genes and the susceptibility of pneumoconiosis.

METHODS1:1 case-control study was adopted. one hundred and thirteen cases of I grade pneumoconiosis were investigated. The control group were workers exposed to dust, who were the same sex, nationality, work place, time of beginning exposure and the cumulative exposure ages not over 2 years. PCR-SSP was used to detect 9 alleles in HLA-DRB1*, DQB1*. Information on related factors of pneumoconiosis was collected using a questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis were carried out with 1:1 case-control methodology.

RESULTSThe frequency of HLA-DRB1*08 allele in case group was significantly higher than that of the controls (OR: 6.000; 95% CI: 1.9060 - 18.9414). The frequencies of HLA-DRB1*09, HLA-DQB1*06 in case group were significantly lower than those of the controls (OR: 0.259, 0.300; 95% CI: 0.1436 - 0.6268, 0.1149 - 0.5837 respectively). There were significant relationship between HLA-DRB1*08, HLA-DRB1*09, HLA-DQB1*06 alleles and pneumoconiosis after adjusting age, smoking, beginning age of exposure and cumulative length of exposure with multivariate logistic regression analysis (OR: 7.804, 0.225, and 0.269; 95% CI: 2.077 - 29.307, 0.083 - 0.609 and 0.117 - 0.613 respectively. Survival analysis showed that HLA-DQB1*06 allele was a protective factor and HLA-DRB1*08 allele was a risk factor for affecting pneumoconiosis latent period.

CONCLUSIONHLA-DRB1*08 allele may be the susceptible risk gene for pneumoconiosis. HLA-DQB1*06 may be the protective gene against developing pneumoconiosis.