HLA antigens and the distribution of the lymphocytes in Georgian population Graves’disease

Marina Kurdgelia, Tamaz Lobzhanidze, Lidia Sikharulidze

Department of Internal Medicine, Georgian State Medical Academy, Tbilisi, Georgia

A total 128 patients of Georgian population with Graves’ disease were examined. Standard microlymphocytotoxic test with HLA typing serri was used for HLA typing. The existence of the association between HLA antigens and the investigated disease was determined by relative risk (RR). The increase of the relative risk more then “2” was already important. To determine the distribution of the lymphocytes’ subpopulations between the regional artery-vena and the elbow vena-finger blood systems the blood was taken from 80 patients during the operation. The lymphocytes’ subpopulations were determined in all patients using monoclonal antibodies anti - CD3+, - CD4+, - CD8+, - CD19+, - CD25+, - CD35+, - CD16+56+. HLA DR3 antigen was determined in 56% patients with RR 4,5. So, HLA DR3 is considered to be the marker of Graves’ disease in Georgian population. At the same time a decrease in the frequency of HLA B7DR2 was found. The gaplotype HLA B7DR2 is considered to carry “protective” properties in Georgian population with Graves' disease. The amount of CD19+ cells are increased in the regional artery in comparison with the regional vena and the elbow vena blood systems. It is supposed, that CD19+ cells infiltrate the thyroid gland or experience unknown changes. The relative and absolute amounts of CD25+ CD35+ cells were statistically reliably increased in the regional vena in comparison with the regional artery and the elbow vena blood systems, so CD25+, CD35+ cells are dropped out of the defeated area.

Keywords:  HLA antigens, Graves' disease, Georgian population, thyroid gland