The Association of Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) Class I and II Genes with Cutaneous and Visceral Leishmaniasis in Iranian Patients: A Preliminary Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND: Leishmaniasis is currently considered a re-emerging or emerging infection based on the geographic region. The outcome of leishmaniasis vastly depends on Leishmania-host interaction. This preliminary study aimed to show the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II genes with healed and non-healed cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), and symptomatic and asymptomatic visceral leishmaniasis (VL) compared with control groups in Iran. METHODS: Ninety-five people, including 31 patients versus 64 individuals in the control group, were enrolled. Among them, 20 patients had confirmed CL based on amastigote observation, 10 had improved CL and 10 non-healed CL. Eleven patients were suffering from confirmed VL based on direct agglutination test (Five asymptomatic and six symptomatic VL cases). Besides, they were residents in an endemic area of VL in the northwest of Iran. To select a control group, it was ensured that they had no history of leishmaniasis. Peripheral blood samples were collected from each patient. After DNA extraction, HLA typing was conducted using polymerase chain reaction - sequence-specific priming (PCR-SSP). Subsequently, data were statistically analyzed by SPSS. RESULTS: There was a statistical relationship between the presence of HLA-A26 and CL, healed CL and the existence of the B38 allele, C1 allele and symptomatic VL, as well as B1.4 allele and asymptomatic VL (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This primary finding indicates that several HLA genes have a potential role in the susceptibility of Iranian people to CL and VL.