Open AccessInvestigation on the Possible Relationship Existing between the Hla-DR Gene and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and/or Mental Retardation
Author(s) -
Anna Aureli,
Pierluigi Sebastiani,
Tiziana Del Beato,
A Marimpietri,
V Melillo,
Enzo Sechi,
Silvia Di Loreto
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
international journal of immunopathology and pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.724
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 2058-7384
pISSN - 0394-6320
DOI - 10.1177/039463200802100423
Subject(s) - genotyping , attention deficit hyperactivity disorder , etiology , cohort , human leukocyte antigen , psychology , psychiatry , medicine , clinical psychology , gene , genetics , genotype , immunology , biology , antigen
This study examines the possible relationship existing between the HLA-DR gene and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and/or mental retardation (MR). The diagnosis of ADHD and mental retardation were established through clinical interviews with the parents, children and teachers, according to the criteria in DSM-IV. HLA-DRB1 genotyping was performed both by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) and by sequence based typing (SBT) in a cohort of 81 affected children and a sample of 100 healthy controls. Here, we report a positive association of HLA-DR4 with ADHD but not with MR. The study adds confirmation to the role of the HLA-DRB1 in the etiology of some types of childhood neuropsychiatric illnesses.