Analysis of HLA-DRB1*1501 in Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Khuzestan Province, Iran

authors:

avatar Nooshin Delfan 1 , * , avatar Hamid Galehdari ORCID 1 , avatar Sayed Reza Kazeminejad 1 , avatar Mohammad Shafiei 1 , avatar Rezvan Zabihi 1 , avatar Nastaran Majdinasab ORCID 2

Department of Genetics, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, IR Iran
Khuzestan Multiple Sclerosis Society, Rehabilitation Faculty, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, IR Iran

How To Cite Delfan N, Galehdari H, Kazeminejad S R, Shafiei M, Zabihi R, et al. Analysis of HLA-DRB1*1501 in Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Khuzestan Province, Iran. Zahedan J Res Med Sci. 2017;19(3):e5647. https://doi.org/10.5812/zjrms.5647.

Abstract

Background:

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating, autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS). The pathogenesis of this disease is still unknown, although there are evidences of environmental factors affecting subjects with genetic predisposition factors. The contribution of HLA-DRB1*1501 to MS risk has been replicated and confirmed in most population-based studies. Since there are no data with respect to the association of HLA-DRB1*1501 and MS in Khuzestan province.

Objectives:

The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of this allele with MS in Khuzestan province.

Methods:

In this case-control study, DRB1*1501 allele was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) in 200 MS patients and 200 unrelated healthy individuals, without any autoimmune disease from the same geographical region. The frequencies of the mentioned allele were compared between the patients and control group using SPSS 16 statistical software and the chi square test.

Results:

The results demonstrated that distribution of DRB1*1501 allele was statistically different between patient and control (41.5% vs. 22.81%, P < 0.001); significant correlation was observed among these allele with both Arab (28.84% vs. 50.84%, P = 0.005) and Persian (15.87% vs. 35.55%, P = 0.018) ethnicities; although no association was revealed between mentioned allele and disease clinical course (relapsing-remitting, secondary-progressive, progressive-relapsing and primary-progressive), expanded disability scale score (EDSS) and gender.

Conclusions:

The study presents association of susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in southwest of Iran with HLA-DRB1*1501 allele in both Arab and Persian ethnic; although DRB1*1501 may be is not involved in the pathogenesis of different MS disease subtypes. The results are consistent with most of the other studies in Iran; and also most studies in European populations.

1. Background

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system which leads to severe neurological disability due to axonal loss. It is more common in young adults. Women are affected nearly twice as often as men [1]. Several clinical courses are described in MS including relapsing-remitting (RRMS), secondary-progressive (SPMS), primary-progressive and progressive-relapsing (PRMS) [2].

The pathogenesis of MS is not well understood, but many epidemiological studies have compared incidence and prevalence rates of the disease across different areas of the world that suggest a complex environment–genotype interaction in etiology of MS [3]. The increased recurrence risk within families indicates roles for genetic factors in the etiology and susceptibility to the development and course of MS [4].

Association with the human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genes from the major histocompatibility complex on chromosome 6p21.3 was identified almost 45 years ago. In particular, the HLA-II gene DRB1*1501 has consistently been found associated with MS [5].

Although several studies have been carried out on the association of DRB1*1501 with MS in Iran [6-9], there are no data so far about this issue in Khuzestan province. Given the ethnicity diversion in Khuzestan province and also due to the fact that unlike Persians, Arabs in Iran are mostly located in Khuzestan and since there are a few data in this regard in Arabic countries, this population study can be of great importance. From this point of view, this article aimed to use genomic typing techniques to evaluate association between HLA-DRB1*1501 and a cohort of MS patients who were resident locating southwest of Iran. In addition, this study examined the probable relationship between the allele with course of disease, ethnicity, expanded disability scale score (EDSS) [10] and gender.

2. Methods

Two hundred patients participated in this case-control study. Peripheral blood was collected from the patients in Khuzestan province who had registered in the Khuzestan MS community according to the McDonald criteria that was used for diagnosis of MS. Detailed clinical and laboratory information was provided from the participants who were enrolled in the present study after obtaining informed consent. A questionnaire was supplied about parameters like ethnicity, gender, positive family history, age and subtype of MS; however, clinical parameters estimation was carried out by neurology specialist. All patients underwent thorough neurological examination and routine laboratory tests. All were followed up and clinically evaluated at regular intervals in the MS clinic.

Two hundred unrelated healthy individuals, without any autoimmune disease and familial history of MS, were enrolled as control group that came to the Shafa hospital for routine laboratory analysis. Control group was selected by group matching to compare with the patient series. The groups of controls were matched to patients on characteristic such as gender and race; Controls were originally from the same geographical region and were matched with patients in ethnicity. Peripheral blood samples were collected from patients and controls in EDTA tubes. The control participants were also informed about our study and completed a questionnaire form.

Salting out method was used for DNA extraction. Electrophoresis and NanoDrop methods were also applied for assessing the quality and quantity of genomic DNA; so several random extracted genomes were selected for this purpose.

Typing of HLA-DRB1*1501 was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction amplification with sequence-specific primed PCR (PCR-SSP) method and was repeated if discordant results were achieved. The sequences of primers used to amplify the DRBI*1501 were designed using the IMGT/HLA database (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/) and checked out in NCBI/blast (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov). The sequences of the forward and reverse primers for exon 2 of DRB1*1501 were 5′-TCCTGTGGCAGCCTAAGAG-3′ and 5′-CCGCGCCTGCTCCAGGAT-3′, respectively. The allele is assigned by the presence of specific PCR product. The size of PCR product may be helpful in the interpretation of the results and it was 197 bp band.

Each PCR-SSP reaction is deemed to have worked if the internal control amplification is observed. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) gene was used as internal control for primers which means in ideal PCR condition, 356 bp band must be appeared. The primers sequences for amplification of internal control were designed by web primer design program, batchprimer3, is accessible at (http://probes.pw.usda.gov/batchprimer3/). They were also aligned in ncbi/blast. The primer sequences were as follow: forward: 5′-GGGACCAATTCTGTGTCACC-3′ and reverse: 5′-TGAACCCAGAAGTCACTCACA-3′.

Finally, the findings were validated by sequencing some samples randomly.

The frequency of the HLA-DRB1*1501 was determined as percentage.

The frequencies of the mentioned allele were compared between the patients and control group using SPSS 16 statistical software and the chi square test. Statistical significance was defined by P value of less than 0.05.

3. Results

Two hundred patients with MS (159 females and 41 males) and 200 healthy sex-matched individuals (144 females and 56 males) were investigated in this study and DRB1*1501 allele was evaluated among them.

The characteristics of the MS patients and control are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

General Information of Patients and Controlsa

General InformationControlsMS Patients
Total individuals, n200200
Male56 (28)41 (20.5)
Female144 (72)159 (79.5)
Persians116 (58)112 (56)
Arabs84 (42)88 (44)
Mean age57.9 ± 6.731.16 ± 7.9
Disease course
RRMS-175 (87.5)
SPMS-5 (2.5)
PPMS-5 (2.5)
PRMS-1 (0.5)
CIS-14 (7)

The mean age of patients was 31.16 ± 7.9.

MS disease type (relapsing-remitting, secondary-progressive, relapsing-progressive and primary-progressive) and EDSS score were recorded at date of clinical report. EDSS was evaluated in range of 0 - 10 and most of them had EDSS less than 3.5.

Fourteen (7%) patients had positive family history of MS.

HLA-DRB1*1501 allele was investigated in 200 MS patients and compared with 200 unrelated healthy individuals (Table 2); results showed that the frequency of HLA-DRB1*1501 allele had increased significantly among patients compared with control group statistically (41.5% vs. 22.81%, P < 0.001, OR = 2.400 [95% CI = 1.561 - 3.690]). Gel electrophoresis is shown in Figure 1.

Table 2.

Frequency of HLA DRB1*1501 Antigens in MS Patients and Controlsa

HLA AlleleMS Patients (n = 200)Control Subjects (n = 200)P Value
DRB1*150183 (41.5)45 (22.81)< 0.001b
Gel Electrophoresis
Column 1 is 50 bp marker, columns 2 is positive sample, columns 3 and 5 are negative samples and column 4 is negative control. Control gene PCR product was 356 bp and HLA-DRB1*1501 PCR product was 197 bp.

Also the correlation of HLA-DRB1*1501 allele with MS in females and males was analyzed, separately. As it is shown in Table 3, there was no association between this allele and any of the gender. Moreover, no significant correlation was demonstrated between the mentioned allele with type of disease and EDSS, although a significant positive association between DRB1*1501 in Arab and Persian patients were observed, as shown in Table 3.

Table 3.

Analysis of association between HLA DRB1*1501 with Sex and Ethnicity Separatelya

GroupPatient (DRB1*1501 Positive)Control (DRB1*1501 Positive)P ValueOR95% CI
Female28 (41.79)49 (47.57)0.4590.7910.425 - 1.472
Male12 (10.61)7 (11.47)0.8630.9170.341 - 2.464
Arab30 (28.84)30 (50.84)0.005b0.3920.202 - 0.761
Persian10 (15.87)16 (35.55)0.018b0.3420.138 - 0.850

4. Discussion

Multiple sclerosis has a major heritable component. The aim of present study was to assess the role of HLA-DRB1*1501 allele that are known to influence on MS susceptibility. Our data provide some indications that support the related studies which were already published [11].

Association and linkage disequilibrium studies have confirmed the role of MHC II region, especially HLA-DRB5*0101-HLA-DRB1*1501-HLA-DQA1*0102-HLA-DQB1*0602 haplotypes, which dominate genetic contribution to MS risk. In most studies that have been performed in European populations, the frequency of HLA-DRB1*1501 in patients have been more than that of the controls [12-18]. In non-European populations, such as Brazilian and African-Americans, also the association of HLA-DRB1*1501 and MS has been shown [19, 20]. In some Asian populations such as Turks, Ashkenazi Jews and Indian also the association of the allele and MS has been observed [21-23]; though in a small number of studies in non-European populations such as Chinese, African-Americans, and Afro-Brazilians, researchers found slightly lower prevalence of DRB1*1501 in MS patients than in controls and/or low frequencies of this allele (< 10%) in both patients and controls [24-26].

Moreover, in Iran, as an Asian country, six studies have been carried out in this regard until now. The results of the current study are similar to four of them [5-7, 9] but different from one of them [8]. However, it should be noted that our allelic frequency was more than most of these studies in Iran and this may be due to different genetic pools and ethnic diversity in Khuzestan province.

We also conducted a PUBMED database survey and reviewed some of the most important studies ever carried out on the frequency of HLA-DRB1*1501, in Table 4. As it is shown in Table 4 the maximum and minimum allelic frequencies in patients have been found in Sweden and Mexico respectively until now [18, 27]; thus the greatest association and the smallest p value have been observed in Sweden [18]. The frequency of HLA-DRB1*1501 allele was 41.5% in our population that is almost similar to that of Spain with allelic frequency of 45.9% in MS population and nearly in line with the study was conducted by Ghabaee et al. which frequency of the allele 46% was reported [5, 15].

Table 4.

HLA DRB1*1501 Frequency in MS Patients and Control Group in Different Populationa

Country (Population)DRB1*1501 FrequencyP ValueOR(95% CI)Ref
Patients, %Controls, %
Brazilian218.850.00092.5343(1.43 - 4.46)[19]
Greek34110.00015--[14]
Mexican2.944.62NS--[26]
Swede6131< 0.00013.5(2.7 - 4.4)[18]
Portuguese29.819.90.0081.72(15 - 2.56)[13]
Spanish38.625.50.00521.835(1.19 - 2.816)[16]
Spaniards/Basque45.934.1*1.364(1.10 - 1.68)[15]
Australian57307 × 10 - 452.74(2.36 - 3.17)[28]
French27120.00012.79(2.1 - 3.89)[12]
Chinese18.321.10.8370.84(0.37 - 1.91)[24]
Turks28.213.90.022.4(1.2 - 5.0)[21]
Iranians46200.0006--[5]
12.55.50.00022.429(1.65 - 3.5)[6]
13.34.50.0013.203(1.57 - 6.51)[7]
20.813.50.241.68(0.49 - 5.42)[8]
46340.00061.7(1.2 - 2.3)[9]
41.522.8< 0.0012.400(1.56 - 3.69)**

Based on the recent study that was carried out by Sharafaddinzadeh et al. MS incidence and prevalence are less among Arabs comparing Persian population in Khuzestan province [29], that is because we calculated the possible association between HLA-DRB1*1501 with Persians and Arabs, separately. According to frequency of the mentioned allele in Persians and Arabs population, significant association in either Persians or Arabs comparing control group was observed. Some association studies have been performed in this regard. A study carried out in Jordan and compared DR1 allele in Palestinians and Jordanians patients with controls; although in mentioned study just the type of HLA was survey, an significant association of HLA-DR1 in patients compared with healthy controls was observed [30]. Moreover, another study confirmed that frequency distribution of HLA-DR epitope in Jordanian Arabs that were clinically defined as MS patients was more than controls and significant association was found [31]. In the Israeli study, HLA alleles was surveyed in Muslim and Christian Arabs, separately; although the DRB1*1501 allele was nominally associated with MS only in the Christian Arab group, no association with Muslim cohort was found [32]. Our finding with regard to Arabs is also similar to the mentioned studies. Hensiek et al. confirmed that HLA-DR15 is associated with female sex in patients with multiple sclerosis [33]; although the results of this study indicate no association between the DRB1*1501 and gender. This result was in line with another study in Greece [14].

There are some studies that showed association between the allele and type of disease [17, 22]. In the Australian study association of HLA-DRB1*1501 with clinical course of multiple sclerosis patients was proved [28]. Even though in this present study no statistically significant differences between DRB1*1501-positive and negative patients were observed according to disease clinical course like some others studies [14].

Logistic regression analysis failed to show any association between HLA-DRB1*1501 and EDSS of MS; EDSS of MS in our sample of patients were similar to features published in observational studies of MS [7, 9, 14]. This suggests that DRB1*1501 may be exerts a susceptibility rather than disease modifying effect in MS.

In summary, the aim of present study is to reveal a part of genetic profile of MS patients in Khuzestan province. The recruited patients originated from south west of Iran. Our results are in line with most of the other previous studies in different ethnic groups in Iran [5-7, 9] and European populations [12-15, 25]. So we can conclude that HLA-DRB1*1501 can be considered as a strong genetic risk factor for MS in our population. For achieving more documented data, it is suggested to type this allele in MS population in other province, specially, in regions considered as high risk for MS.

Acknowledgements

References

  • 1.

    Zabihi R, Galehdari H, Shafiee M, Kazeminejad SR, Alavi SM. Analysis of HLA-DQB1*0602 in Multiple Sclerosis Patients in Khuzestan Province, Iran. Arch Iran Med. 2015;18(10):698-702. [PubMed ID: 26443252].

  • 2.

    McDonald WI, Halliday AM. Diagnosis and classification of multiple sclerosis. Br Med Bull. 1977;33(1):4-9. [PubMed ID: 318887].

  • 3.

    Gajofatto A, Stefani A, Turatti M, Bianchi MR, Lira MG, Moretto G, et al. Prevalence of multiple sclerosis in Verona, Italy: an epidemiological and genetic study. Eur J Neurol. 2013;20(4):697-703. [PubMed ID: 23279712]. https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.12045.

  • 4.

    Compston A, Sawcer S. Genetic analysis of multiple sclerosis. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2002;2(3):259-66. [PubMed ID: 11937005].

  • 5.

    Ghabaee M, Bayati A, Amri Saroukolaei S, Sahraian MA, Sanaati MH, Karimi P, et al. Analysis of HLA DR2&DQ6 (DRB1*1501, DQA1*0102, DQB1*0602) haplotypes in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis. Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2009;29(1):109-14. [PubMed ID: 18726686]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10571-008-9302-1.

  • 6.

    Sayad A. The association of -330 interleukin-2 gene polymorphism and HLA-DR15 allele in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis. Int J Immunogenet. 2014;41(4):330-4. [PubMed ID: 24919928]. https://doi.org/10.1111/iji.12132.

  • 7.

    Kollaee A, Ghaffarpor M, Ghlichnia HA, Ghaffari SH, Zamani M. The influence of the HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 allele heterogeneity on disease risk and severity in Iranian patients with multiple sclerosis. Int J Immunogenet. 2012;39(5):414-22. [PubMed ID: 22404765]. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-313X.2012.01104.x.

  • 8.

    Amirzargar AA, Tabasi A, Khosravi F, Kheradvar A, Rezaei N, Naroueynejad M, et al. Optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis and human leukocyte antigen: results of a 4-year follow-up study. Eur J Neurol. 2005;12(1):25-30. [PubMed ID: 15613143]. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-1331.2004.00901.x.

  • 9.

    Shahbazi M, Roshandel D, Ebadi H, Fathi D, Zamani M, Boghaee M, et al. High frequency of the IL-2 -330 T/HLA-DRB1*1501 haplotype in patients with multiple sclerosis. Clin Immunol. 2010;137(1):134-8. [PubMed ID: 20594918]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clim.2010.05.010.

  • 10.

    Kurtzke JF. Rating neurologic impairment in multiple sclerosis: an expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Neurology. 1983;33(11):1444-52. [PubMed ID: 6685237].

  • 11.

    Ramagopalan SV, Ebers GC. Genes for multiple sclerosis. Lancet. 2008;371(9609):283-5. [PubMed ID: 18294983]. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(08)60145-2.

  • 12.

    Zephir H, Fajardy I, Outteryck O, Blanc F, Roger N, Fleury M, et al. Is neuromyelitis optica associated with human leukocyte antigen? Mult Scler. 2009;15(5):571-9. [PubMed ID: 19299434]. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458508102085.

  • 13.

    Silva AM, Pereira C, Bettencourt A, Carvalho C, Couto AR, Leite MI, et al. The role of HLA-DRB1 alleles on susceptibility and outcome of a Portuguese Multiple Sclerosis population. J Neurol Sci. 2007;258(1-2):69-74. [PubMed ID: 17412364]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2007.02.033.

  • 14.

    Kouri I, Papakonstantinou S, Bempes V, Vasiliadis HS, Kyritsis AP, Pelidou SH. HLA associations with multiple sclerosis in Greece. J Neurol Sci. 2011;308(1-2):28-31. [PubMed ID: 21741664]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jns.2011.06.037.

  • 15.

    Fernandez O, R. Antiguedad A, Pinto-Medel MJ, Mendibe MM, Acosta N, Oliver B, et al. HLA class II alleles in patients with multiple sclerosis in the Biscay province (Basque Country, Spain). J Neurol. 2009;256(12):1977-88. [PubMed ID: 19585166]. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-009-5223-2.

  • 16.

    Irizar H, Munoz-Culla M, Zuriarrain O, Goyenechea E, Castillo-Trivino T, Prada A, et al. HLA-DRB1*15:01 and multiple sclerosis: a female association? Mult Scler. 2012;18(5):569-77. [PubMed ID: 22127897]. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458511426813.

  • 17.

    Balnyte R, Rastenyte D, Vaitkus A, Mickeviciene D, Skrodeniene E, Vitkauskiene A, et al. The importance of HLA DRB1 gene allele to clinical features and disability in patients with multiple sclerosis in Lithuania. BMC Neurol. 2013;13:77. [PubMed ID: 23837503]. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2377-13-77.

  • 18.

    Masterman T, Ligers A, Olsson T, Andersson M, Olerup O, Hillert J. HLA-DR15 is associated with lower age at onset in multiple sclerosis. Ann Neurol. 2000;48(2):211-9. [PubMed ID: 10939572].

  • 19.

    Kaimen-Maciel DR, Reiche EM, Borelli SD, Morimoto HK, Melo FC, Lopes J, et al. HLA-DRB1* allele-associated genetic susceptibility and protection against multiple sclerosis in Brazilian patients. Mol Med Rep. 2009;2(6):993-8. [PubMed ID: 21475933]. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr_00000204.

  • 20.

    Johnson BA, Wang J, Taylor EM, Caillier SJ, Herbert J, Khan OA, et al. Multiple sclerosis susceptibility alleles in African Americans. Genes Immun. 2010;11(4):343-50. [PubMed ID: 19865102]. https://doi.org/10.1038/gene.2009.81.

  • 21.

    Saruhan-Direskeneli G, Esin S, Baykan-Kurt B, Ornek I, Vaughan R, Eraksoy M. HLA-DR and -DQ associations with multiple sclerosis in Turkey. Hum Immunol. 1997;55(1):59-65. [PubMed ID: 9328791].

  • 22.

    Kwon OJ, Karni A, Israel S, Brautbar C, Amar A, Meiner Z, et al. HLA class II susceptibility to multiple sclerosis among Ashkenazi and non-Ashkenazi Jews. Arch Neurol. 1999;56(5):555-60. [PubMed ID: 10328250].

  • 23.

    Floor K. HLA A, B, Cw. DRB1 and DQB1 Alleles in Multiple Sclerosis Patients in India. Int J Hum Genet. 2012;12(1):37-40.

  • 24.

    Wu XM, Wang C, Zhang KN, Lin AY, Kira J, Hu GZ, et al. Association of susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in Southern Han Chinese with HLA-DRB1, -DPB1 alleles and DRB1-DPB1 haplotypes: distinct from other populations. Mult Scler. 2009;15(12):1422-30. [PubMed ID: 19965521]. https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458509345905.

  • 25.

    Kelly MA, Jacobs KH, Penny MA, Mijovic CH, Nightingale S, Barnett AH, et al. An investigation of HLA-encoded genetic susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in subjects of Asian Indian and Afro-Caribbean ethnic origin. Tissue Antigens. 1995;45(3):197-202. [PubMed ID: 7761978].

  • 26.

    Caballero A, Alves-Leon S, Papais-Alvarenga R, Fernandez O, Navarro G, Alonso A. DQB1*0602 confers genetic susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in Afro-Brazilians. Tissue Antigens. 1999;54(5):524-6. [PubMed ID: 10599893].

  • 27.

    Alaez C, Corona T, Ruano L, Flores H, Loyola M, Gorodezky C. Mediterranean and Amerindian MHC class II alleles are associated with multiple sclerosis in Mexicans. Acta Neurol Scand. 2005;112(5):317-22. [PubMed ID: 16218914]. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0404.2005.00493.x.

  • 28.

    Stankovich J, Butzkueven H, Marriott M, Chapman C, Tubridy N, Tait BD, et al. HLA-DRB1 associations with disease susceptibility and clinical course in Australians with multiple sclerosis. Tissue Antigens. 2009;74(1):17-21. [PubMed ID: 19392788]. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1399-0039.2009.01262.x.

  • 29.

    Sharafaddinzadeh N, Moghtaderi A, Majdinasab N, Dahmardeh M, Kashipazha D, Shalbafan B. The influence of ethnicity on the characteristics of multiple sclerosis: a local population study between Persians and Arabs. Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2013;115(8):1271-5. [PubMed ID: 23273383]. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clineuro.2012.11.027.

  • 30.

    Najim Al-Din AS, Kurdi A, Mubaidin A, El-Khateeb M, Khalil RW, Wriekat AL. Epidemiology of multiple sclerosis in Arabs in Jordan: a comparative study between Jordanians and Palestinians. J Neurol Sci. 1996;135(2):162-7. [PubMed ID: 8867073].

  • 31.

    al-Din AS, el-Khateeb M, Kurdi A, Mubaidin A, Wriekat A, al-Shehab A, et al. Multiple sclerosis in Arabs in Jordan. J Neurol Sci. 1995;131(2):144-9. [PubMed ID: 7595639].

  • 32.

    Benedek G, Paperna T, Avidan N, Lejbkowicz I, Oksenberg JR, Wang J, et al. Opposing effects of the HLA-DRB1*0301-DQB1*0201 haplotype on the risk for multiple sclerosis in diverse Arab populations in Israel. Genes Immun. 2010;11(5):423-31. [PubMed ID: 20463743]. https://doi.org/10.1038/gene.2010.20.

  • 33.

    Hensiek AE, Sawcer SJ, Feakes R, Deans J, Mander A, Akesson E, et al. HLA-DR 15 is associated with female sex and younger age at diagnosis in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2002;72(2):184-7. [PubMed ID: 11796767].