Freqs of HLA-A & B antigens in Families with Autism

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Primary Author's Institution/

Affiliation

Kennedy Krieger Institute

Abstract Title

THE FREQUENCIES OF HLA-A AND B ANTIGENS IN FAMILIES WITH AUTISM

List of Authors

A. W. Zimmerman, A. A. Zachary, M. S. Leffell, K. J. Matteson, J. D.

Tyler, L. Lee

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THE FREQUENCIES OF HLA-A AND B ANTIGENS IN FAMILIES WITH AUTISM

Zimmerman, ; Zachary, ; Leffell, ; Matteson, Karla;

Tyler, ; Lee, Li-Ching

Kennedy Krieger Institute and s Hopkins University School of

Public Health and School of Medicine

Background: Immunogenetic factors such as Human Leuckocyte Antigens

(HLA) may determine atypical immune responses in families with autism.

We previously reported increased rates of HLA-DR4, an HLA type

frequently associated with autoimmune disorders, in a cohort of

families in East Tennessee, but not in a national sample.

Objective: To report on the frequencies of HLA-A and HLA-B antigens in

families with children with autistic disorder.

Methods: Two groups were studied (Caucasians; 1 boy with autism and

both parents from each family): 16 families selected from a

geographically defined area have boys with autism; and 23 families

across all regions in the US who have multiple boys with autism. The

HLA-A and B antigen frequencies were compared to 265 unrelated

Caucasians from the US National Marrow Donor Program.

Results: Boys in the geographically defined group had significantly

higher frequencies of HLA-A1 and B8 than controls (OR =2.56, 95% CI

=1.08-5.93; and OR=2.71, 95% CI=1.07-6.71, respectively). Fathers of

these boys were 4.41 times more likely to have A68 (95%CI=1.17-15.20)

than controls. No significant difference in the distribution of HLA-A

or B antigen was found between the US-all region groups and controls

or mothers of the geographically defined group and controls.

Conclusion: HLA-A1 and B8 may be important determinants of immune

regulation in autism within a population in a geographically defined

region. Increased frequencies of A1 and B8 most likely reflect the

A1;B8 haplotype, which is commonly associated with HLA-DR4 and

autoimmune disorders. HLA-A68 also may be a paternal marker for

susceptibility to autism in children.