Application of a Simple In-House PCR-SSP Technique for HLA-B* 27 Typing in Spondyloarthritis Patients

الملخص EN

Background.

Microlymphocytotoxicity (MLCT) and flowcytometry (FC) are the conventional serological methods to detect HLA-B* 27.

Due to some disadvantages in these methods, most of the HLA laboratories have now switched over to molecular methods.

Molecular techniques based on commercial kits are expensive; as such many laboratories with limited funds in developing countries cannot afford these techniques.

Aims.

Our main aim was to standardize a simple inexpensive in-house PCR-SSP technique for HLA-B* 27 typing.

Materials and Methods.

Sequence Specific primers were designed to amplify all the subtypes of B* 27 using IMGT-HLA sequence database.

Accuracy was checked by retyping of 90 PCR-SSOP typed controls.

Results.

The presence of 149 bp specific band with control band on 2% agarose gel showed B* 27 positivity.

No discrepancies were found when compared with PCR-SSOP results.

The frequency of HLA-B* 27 was found to be significantly increased (68.75% versus 4.40%, O.R 46.909: P value 6.62E-32) among 700 SpA patients as compared to controls.

Clinically, 54% of patients had polyarticular arthritis with SI joints involvement (68%) and restricted spine flexion (60%).

Conclusion.

In-house PCR-SSP technique is very simple and inexpensive technique to detect B* 27 allele, which was strongly associated with SpA patients from Western India.