NO EVIDENCE FOR THE INFLUENCE OF HLA CLASS-II IN ALLELES IN ISOCYANATE-INDUCED ASTHMA

Isocyanates are one of the main causes of occupational asthma. The aim of this investigation tons to study the possible genetic background o f isocyanate-induced asthma under consideration of the atopy status an d different lung function parameters. We investigated the human leukoc yte antigen (HLA) genes DRB1,3,4,5, DQB1, and DQA1 in 55 isocyanate-ex posed patients with workplace-related dyspnea (32 asthmatics, 23 nonas thmatics) and 90 nonexposed controls. In contrast To other studies, to e found no significant differences for any HLA class II allele tested in our study group. Furthermore, no significant differences concerning the aspartic amino acid residue 57 of DQB1 was observed. Therefore, w e are unable to confirm an involvement of a specific HLA class II alle le or DQB1-Asp57 in conferring susceptibility to isocyanate asthma in our study group. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.