Molecular epidemiology of IDDM in the Western Pacific Rim Region

• Published in: Diabetes research and clinical practice Vol. 34; pp. S117 - S123
• Main Authors: Matsuura, Nobuo, Kwang Wook Ko, Yong Soo Park, Elliott, Robert
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.10.1996; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Genetics; HLA-DQ; Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM); Japan; Korea; Medical sciences; Molecular epidemiology; New Zealand; Tropical medicine; New Zealand; Asia; Japan; Oceania; Korea; New Zealand; Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM); Japan; HLA-DQ; Molecular epidemiology; Genetics; Korea; Endocrinopathy; Human; Immunopathology; HLA-System; Genetic inheritance; Antigenic determinant; Pathogenesis; Insulin dependent diabetes; Autoimmune disease
• ISSN: 0168-8227; 1872-8227
• DOI: 10.1016/S0168-8227(96)90018-2

HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 alleles coding for arginine (R) in position 52, and an amino acid other than aspartic acid (ND) in position 57, respectively, are strong genetic markers for IDDM in Caucasians. However, their contribution to the occurrence of the disease in Asian populations is less clear. As part of the WHO DiaMond Molecular Epidemiology Sub-Project. HLA-DQ molecular typing was performed for IDDM cases and non-diabetic controls from three populations in the Western Pacific Rim Region where incidence rates have been established (Hokkaido, Japan; Seoul, Korea; Auckland, New Zealand). DQA1*R homozygosity was significantly associated with IDDM in all areas. DQB1*ND homozygosity was also related to IDDM in Korea and New Zealand, but not in Japan. Individuals who were homozygous for DQA1*R and DQB1*ND were at highest IDDM risk in Korea and New Zealand, with the most striking findings in Auckland. In Japan, individuals carrying two DQA1*R, but only one DQB1*ND allele, were most likely to develop IDDM. These data revealed considerable genetic heterogeneity between Japan and Korea and suggest that DQA1*R and DQB1*ND alleles may explain a larger proportion of IDDM incidence in Caucasian compared to Asian populations.