Human Leukocyte Antigen DQB1 (HLA-DQB1) Polymorphisms and the Risk for Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

PLoS One. 2015 Jul 23;10(7):e0131374. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131374. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder of the peripheral nervous system. There is no consensus regarding reported associations between human leukocyte antigen DQB1 (HLA-DQB1) polymorphisms and the risk for developing GBS. Here, we evaluated possible associations between HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms and the risk for GBS using a meta-analysis. We searched PubMed for case-control genetic association studies for HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms (*020x, *030x, *040x, *050x, and *060x) and the risk for GBS. Fixed-effect meta-analytical methods were used for the outcome measure and subgroup analyses. Estimated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to investigate the associations between HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms and the risk for GBS. Nine case-control studies involving 780 cases of GBS and 1353 controls were identified in the current study. The meta-analysis demonstrated no significant associations between HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms and the risk for GBS in Asian and Caucasian populations. There were two associations that approached significance: HLA-DQB1*030x in Asian patients (P = 0.07; OR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.57-1.03) and HLA-DQB1*060x in all patients (P = 0.08; OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 0.96-2.29). Additional studies with larger sample sizes are required to establish a definitive assessment of the contribution of HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms to GBS risk.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Asian People / genetics
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / ethnology
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / ethnology
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / genetics*
  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Odds Ratio
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • White People / genetics

Substances

  • HLA-DQ beta-Chains
  • HLA-DQB1 antigen

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grants from the Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31070976, 81172291, and 81030010), intramural funds of the Fourth Military Medical University (China, 2012), and the Key Science and Technology Program of Shaanxi Province, China (2011 SK11-33). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.