Amir Reza Tafreshian - Immunology Research Group, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mehdi Etemadi - Neurology Department and HTLVI Foundation, Ghaem Medical Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Reza Farid-Hosseini - Allergy Research Center, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Mansoor Salhi - Genetics Department School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Jalil Tavakkol Afshari - Immunology Research Group, Bu-Ali Research Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran

Objective(s): HTLVI-۱ is the first human retrovirus with limited endemic regions in the world. The epidemiological studies have shown that the genetic background and immune response to the virus have a significant role in HTLV-I-associated diseases.  Among the genes are involved in HTLV-I infection, the role of human leukocytes antigen (HLA) have been studied in different population. In the present study we examined the association between HLA-DQB۱ alleles and HTLV-I infection in HAM/TSP patients, HTLV-I carriers and healthy controls in north east of Iran, Mashhad. Materials and Methods:The blood samples of ۱۶ patients with HAM/TSP, ۲۰ HTLV-۱ carriers, and ۳۰ healthy individuals were taken and DNA was extracted by salting out method.  HLA-DQB۱ typing was performed using PCR-SSP method and the frequency of HLA-DQB۱ alleles were compared by Fischer Exact Test. Results:There was a significant difference between HAM/TSP patients and healthy controls in the frequency of HLA-DQB۱*۰۷ (P=۰.۰۰۴, RR=۷). Furthermore, we found that possession of HLA- DQB۱*۰۲ or HLA-DQB۱*۰۵ increased the risk of disease ۱.۵ times. Conclusion: The data presented here suggest that both HLA-DQB۱*۰۷ and HLA-DQB۱*۰۶ are associated with disease development.

HLA, HLA-DQB۱, HAM/TSP, HTLV-۱, PCR-SSP