In order to evaluate association of particular HLA typing with certain uveitis in Korean population, HLA antigens were analyzed in 114 uneitis patients(acute anterior uveitis: 32 cases, Behcet`s disease: 25 cases, intermediate uveitis: 19 cases, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada (V-K-H) syndrome: 10 cases, retinal vasculitis: 12 cases, Eale`s disease: 3 cases, posterior uveitis: 9 cases, pan.uveitis: 4 cases). The stronger association between acute anterior uveitis and HLA-B27 was statistically significant, and this result was similar to reports in other ethnic groups. Also, the association between V-K-H syndrome and HLA-DR4 showed same results. But the high frequency of HLA-DR7 in the patients with V-K-H syndrome was unque in patients of Korean popjlation and statistically significant. The association between HLA-A2 and posterior uveitis was high in patients of Korean population and statistically significant. Behcet`s disease was stronger association with HLA-B51 but not statistically significant and much weaker association than reports in Japanese group. Although many similarities of associations between particular uveitis and HLA typing were detected as compared with other ethnic groups, distinctive HLA associations were demonstrated in Korean population. Additional cases and long-term follow-up are required to confirm the association with HLA typing and the relationship with prognosis including clinical and laboratory variabilities.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Ethnic Groups ; Follow-Up Studies ; Histocompatibility Testing ; HLA Antigens ; HLA-A2 Antigen ; HLA-B27 Antigen ; HLA-B51 Antigen ; HLA-DR4 Antigen ; HLA-DR7 Antigen ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Retinal Vasculitis ; Uveitis* ; Uveitis, Anterior ; Uveitis, Intermediate ; Uveitis, Posterior

BACKGROUND: Specific IgE responses to allergens provide useful models for evaluating the genetic factors that control human immune responses. HLA class II gene products are involved in the antigen presentation of exogenous antigens. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether susceptibility or resistance to asthma induced by the citrus red mite (Panonychus citri, CRM) was associated with HLA class II gene-encoded antigens. METHODS: Peripheral venous blood samples were collected from two groups of unrelated Korean adults. Ninety-one patients with citrus red mite-induced asthma and 98 exposed, healthy control subjects. The second exon of the HLA-DRB1 genes was selectively amplified by the polymerase chain reaction method. HLA typing was carried out using PCR-sequence specific oligonucleotide probes(PCR-SSOP). RESULTS: The frequency of HLA-DR7 was significantly higher among the CRM-sensitive asthmatics than among the controls (17.6% vs 4.1%, RR=3.92, p=0.01). Conversely, the frequency of HLA-DR4 was significantly lower among the CRM-sensitive asthmatics than among the controls(19.8% vs 40.8%, RR=0.36, p=0.01). No significant difference was found in the distributions of the other HLA-DRB1 gene-encoded antigens between the two groups. CONCLUSION: HLA-DRB1 genes may be involved in the development of citrus red mite-induced asthma. In addition, HLA-DR7 may increase, and DR4 decrease, the risk of developing asthma in exposed individuals.
Adult ; Allergens ; Antigen Presentation ; Asthma* ; Citrus* ; Exons ; Genes, MHC Class II ; Histocompatibility Testing ; HLA-DR Antigens ; HLA-DR4 Antigen ; HLA-DR7 Antigen ; HLA-DRB1 Chains ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Mites* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

OBJECTIVETo define roles of B7-1 co-stimulation factor expressed in human malignant cell lines in mediating anti-tumor T cell immune responses.

METHODSExamining human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and B7 expressions on 8 human blood malignancies cell lines by flow cytometry. Transfecting B7-1 gene to B7-1 negative (B7(-)) Raji and B7(-) Jurkat cell lines by liposome, and comparing the potencies of blood malignant cell lines in the induction of T cell activation by examination of T cell cytokine mRNAs before and after transfection using semi-quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTSHigh level of HLA I and II molecules were expressed in most human blood malignant cell lines examined, and the co-stimulatory factor B7-2 was also highly expressed. In contrast, another member of B7 family: B7-1 was either not expressed or very limitedly expressed in most of these hematopoietic malignant cell lines. Most importantly, transfection of B7-1 gene to B7(-). Raji and B7(-). Jurkat cell lines made these cell lines better antigen presenting cells for stimulation of anti-tumor T cell activation, which was demonstrated by up regulation of expression of T cell cytokines IL-2, IL-4 and INF-gamma mRNAs after incubation of these tumor cells with T cells for 24 h.

CONCLUSIONSB7 co-stimulation plays an important role in anti-tumor immunity. Transfection of B7-1 gene to the human hematopoietic malignant cell lines that are deficient in the B7-1 expression empowers their antigen presentation potency for activation of anti-tumor T cells. Our results suggested that repairing the deficiency of B7-1 co-stimulatory pathway in tumor cells might be a novel immunotherapeutic approach for human hematopoietic malignancies.

Antigen Presentation ; Antigens, CD ; analysis ; B7-1 Antigen ; analysis ; physiology ; B7-2 Antigen ; Cytokines ; genetics ; Flow Cytometry ; HLA-DR7 Antigen ; physiology ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; immunology ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; analysis ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Transfection ; U937 Cells