MHC Polymorphisms

Question 1

HLA-B27

Answer 1

• Individuals are 90x more likely to develop spondylitis (destruction of vertebral cartilage)
• –Also linked to psoriasis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Reiter’s syndrome

Question 2

HLA-DR2

Answer 2

Individuals are 130x more likely to develop narcolepsy

—Also linked to MS, hay fever and SLE

Question 3

HLA-A3/B14

Answer 3

Individuals are 90x more likely to develop hemochromatosis (too much iron adsorption which can lead to internal organ damage)

Question 4

HLA-DQ2/GQ8

Answer 4

Linked in Celiac Disease

Question 5

HLA-DR3

Answer 5

Linked to diabetes mellitus type I, Grave’s disease

Question 6

HLA-DR4

Answer 6

Linked to rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes mellitus type I

Question 7

HLA-B53

Answer 7

Associated with protection against childhood malaria

• Specific global distribution pattern:
• –Gene frequency in Ghana = 40%
• –Gene frequency in China and South Africa = 1-2%