HLA-DP antigens and post-streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis

We have typed 58 Japanese patients with post- streptococcal acute glomerulonephritis (PSAGN) for HLA-DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, DPA1 and DPB1 genes by the HLA-DNA typing method using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-sequence specific oligonucleotide probe (SSOP) technique. The control subjects were 317 healthy unrelated individuals. Frequencies of HLA-DPA1*02022 and DPB1*0501, which are in linkage disequilibrium and encode HLA-DP5 antigen, were significantly increased in patients with PSAGN than those in control (p(c) < 0.0005 and p(c) < 0.005, respectively). Frequencies of HLA-DPA1*01 and DPA1*0201 were significantly decreased in patients when compared with controls (p(c) < 0.05, for both). No significant difference in allele frequencies between the two groups was observed in the DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 genes. This is the first report documenting the association of HLA-DP alleles with PSAGN. We speculate that HLA- DP5 antigens may be involved in the development of PSAGN.