Association between HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms and pemphigus vulgaris: A meta-analysis

Objective: This study was performed to systematically summarize the results on the association of HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and other related factors.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar database was conducted to identify relevant articles in English, with the last report up to November 1, 2016. Heterogeneity test was performed, and publication bias was evaluated. Stata software 12.0 was used to perform the meta-analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to describe the correlation by random-effects model.

Results: 18 studies were obtained after searching databases: 10 studies were about Caucasian, and 8 articles were about non-Caucasian. Meta-analysis revealed that the allele and phenotype frequencies of DQB1*05 were markedly higher in PV patients than in controls [P < 0.001, OR: 2.640, 95%CI: 1.570–4.441; P = 0.030, OR 3.688, 95%CI: 1.138–11.946]. In addition, DQB1*03 was significantly increased at the allele level [P < 0.001, OR: 2.080, 95%CI: 1.507–2.869], and DQB1*02 was significantly decreased in PV at the allele and phenotype levels [P = 0.002, OR: 0.450, 95%CI: 0.289–0.702; P = 0.001, OR: 0.293, 95%CI: 0.146–0.587]. When based on each subtype of HLA-DQB1, DQB1*05:03 and DQB1*03:02 may play susceptibility roles in PV, and DQB1*03:03, DQB1*05:01 and DQB1*06:01 are negatively associated with PV.

Conclusion: In summary, our study suggests that alleles from the groups DQB1*05 and DQB1*03, concretely DQB1*05:03 and DQB1*03:02, respectively, may be the susceptibility factors for PV at allele and phenotype levels, whereas DQB1*05:01, DQB1*02, DQB1*06:01, and DQB1*03:03 are negatively associated with PV.