Association of Major Histocompatibility Complex with Psoriasis vulgaris in Adult Kuwaitis

Abstract

Objective: The association of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) with psoriasis vulgaris has been reported in different ethnic groups. However, an identification of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes that determine susceptibility to the disease has not been reported previously among the Arabs of the Arabian Peninsula. This study was conducted with the objective of establishing any correlation between psoriasis and the expression of HLA class I and class II in a Kuwaiti population. Methods: Expression frequencies of the MHC were measured in 26 Kuwaiti patients with psoriasis, and 60 control individuals were matched for age, sex and ethnic background. Tissue typing for class I and class II antigens was carried out by lymphocytotoxicity assays. Results: HLA-CW6, DQ2 and DQ7 were significantly increased in patients compared to controls (p = 0.0002, 0.0044 and 0.0004, respectively), while HLA-B7, DR5 and DR52 were significantly decreased (p = 0.002, 0.0004, 0.019, respectively). Conclusion: These findings suggest that psoriasis is associated with HLA-CW6, DQ2 and DQ7 in the Kuwaiti population. Further studies to investigate the association of distinct HLA with psoriasis vulgaris based on the RNA levels are under way.