Abstract: Objective To identify the association of HLA-DQA1 and-DQ B1 alleles with vitiligo in Chinese Hans in Anhui province. Methods Polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) method was used to analyze the distribution of HLA-DQA1 and-DQB1 alleles among 187 patients with vitiligo and 273 healthy controls. Results The frequencies of HLA-DQA1*0302,-DQB1*0303,-DQB1*0503 alleles were significantly increased in the patients with vitiligo compared with those in the controls,and HLA-DQA1*0501 allele frequency was mark edly decreased.HLA-DQA1*0302,-DQA1*0601,-DQB1*0303,-DQB1*0503 alleles were positively associated,whereas HLA-DQA1*0501 allele was negatively associated with childhood vitiligo,and HLA-DQB1*0303 allele was positively associated with adultvitiligo,in comparison with those in the controls.The frequency of HLA-DQB 1*0303 allele was significantly increased in localized vitiligo patients compared with that in the controls,whereas frequencies of HLA-DQA1*0302,-DQB1*0303,-DQB1*0503 alleles were significantly increased and the frequency of HLA-DQA1*0501 allele was markedly decreased in generalized vitiligo patients. Conclusions HLA-DQA1*0302,-DQA1*0601,-DQB1*0303 and-DQB1*0503 alleles could be the suscep tible alleles of vitiligo,while HLA-DQA1*0501 allele could be the protective al lele in Chinese Hans in Anhui province.There may be different genetic backgrounds between childhood and adult patients,and between localized and generalized vitiligo.

Key words: Vitiligo, Genes, MHC classⅡ