The HLA-G low expressor genotype is associated with protection against bipolar disorder

Abstract

Implication of immune processes in bipolar disorder (BD) has recently gained increasing attention. Tolerogenic molecules, among which HLA-G plays a prominent role, mediate the modulation of such processes. The HLA-G locus is characterized by a high number of polymorphisms including a functionally relevant 14 base pair (bp) insertion/deletion (Ins/Del) allele affecting the HLA-G expression. Here, we analyzed the distribution of this polymorphism in 561 BD patients and 161 healthy and found that the HLA-G 14bp Ins/Ins genotype was significantly more prevalent in healthy controls than in patients (corrected p; pc=0.032) and that the prevalence of such protective genotype is lower among patients born during the winter season as compared to those born in other periods (pc=0.006). Possible mechanisms between low HLA G expression and resistance to infections as well as potential relationships between infections in early life and susceptibility to BD are discussed.