Immunogenetic Factors of Predisposition to Blood Malignancies in Russian Population

Khamaganova E, Aleschenko S, Murashova L, Zaretskaya Y

Research Center for Hematology, Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, Moscow, Russia

Russ. J. Immunol. 2001, October 15, 6 (3), 265-270

HLA class II loci (DRB1, DQB1) have been investigated in patients with different blood tumors: acute myelogenous leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia and Hodgkin’s disease. The purpose was to determine the general (common) markers of predisposition (or resistance) in HLA class II loci to malignant changing of hemopoiesis in Russian population, and to verify the individual associations between HLA and disease for each examined neoplasm. It has been found that: 1). DRB1*11 is general (common) factor of predisposition to all investigated blood neoplasms. 2). In HLA class II loci there are factors of predisposition to one-third of neoplasms such as DRB1*12 DQB1*0503, 0301 for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, DRB1*14, DQB1*0503, 0601 for chronic myelogenous leukemia, DQB1*0503 and 0301 for Hodgkin’s disease. Our findings support the hypothesis that there are structures associated with HLA system, which predispose to malignant change of hemopoiesis in general, and other HLA structures, which «turn» the change into concrete nosological form. Both factors are linked with HLA class II loci.