Genetics of immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein purpura): An updated review

Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV) is classically a childhood small-sized blood vessel vasculitis with predominant involvement of the skin. Gastrointestinal and joint manifestations are common in patients diagnosed with this condition. Nephritis, which is more severe in adults, constitutes the most feared complication of this vasculitis. The molecular bases underlying the origin of IgAV have not been completely elucidated. Nevertheless, several pieces of evidence support the claim that genes play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of this disease. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) region is, until now, the main genetic factor associated with IgAV pathogenesis. Besides a strong association with HLA class II alleles, specifically HLA-DRB1 alleles, HLA class I alleles also seem to influence on the predisposition of this disease. Other gene polymorphisms located outside the HLA region, including those coding cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules as well as those related to T-cells, aberrant glycosylation of IgA1, nitric oxide production, neoangiogenesis, renin-angiotensin system and lipid, Pyrin and homocysteine metabolism, may be implicated not only in the predisposition to IgAV but also in its severity. An update of the current knowledge of the genetic component associated with the pathogenesis of IgAV is detailed in this review.Acknowledgements: RL-Mis supported by the Miguel Servet I programme of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the grant CP16/ 00033. FG is recipient of a Sara Borrell postdoctoral fellowship from the “Instituto Carlos III de Salud” at the Spanish Ministry of Health (Spain) (CD15/00095). SR-M is supported by funds from the RETICS Program (RIER) (RD16/0012/0009). FDC is supported by the Ramón y Cajal programme of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the grant RYC-2014-16458

OXYGEN-1S AND COBALT-2P X-RAY ABSORPTION OF COBALT OXIDES

The oxygen ls and cobalt 2p x-ray absorption spectra of CoO, Li-doped CoO and LiCoO2 have been measured with 0.1 eV resolution. The cobalt 2p spectra are analysed with a ligand-field multiplet model and the inclusion of charge-transfer effects is discussed. The oxygen ls spectra are interpreted as transitions to empty oxygen p states and it is concluded that the effects of correlations in the 3d band possibly are too small to be detectable. The symmetries and the electronic configurations of the cobalt ions in the oxides are determined. It is concluded that, in contrast to for example NiO and La2CuO4, the doping-induced states are possibly of 1A1 symmetry, which would imply that the quasi-particles have spin 3/2 and are most likely trapped