HLA-DP-ASSOCIATED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO THE OPTICO-SPINAL FORM OF MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS IN THE JAPANESE

We studied polymorphism of the HLA-DP gene in 46 patients with optico- spinal form (Asian type) multiple sclerosis (MS) showing recurrent opt icomyelitis and 46 patients with Western type MS with disseminated cen tral nervous system involvement. We previously reported a significant association between an HLA-DRB11501-DRB5*0101 haplotype and susceptib ility to Western type but not Asian type MS. In the present study we f ound that the frequencies of DPA10202 and DPB1*0501 alleles were sign ificantly increased in patients with Asian type MS, as compared with f indings in 92 healthy control subjects (91.3% vs 65.2%, P-corr<0.05 an d 89.1% vs 63.0%, P-corr<0.05 respectively), but not in Western type M S. Our data provide further evidence that Asian and Western type MS ar e distinct regarding the immunogenetic background.