Basic Science Republic of Macedonia

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the gene frequencies of 16 KIR genes and pseudogenes and KIR genotypes in Macedonian patients with transplanted bone marrow and their sibling donors in treatment of haematological malignancy, and to analyse eventual association of the gene content with the occurrence of a graft versus host disease (GVHD). Material and Methods: The study was performed on 24 patients and their HLA-matched sibling donors. Results: Comparison of KIR gene frequencies between the total 24 donors and healthy Macedonians reveals statistically significant difference for KIR2DS1 (F= 0.481 in the controls group, and 0.76 in the patients group, p=0.004). This significance is even higher when the frequency of KIR2DS1 in controls is compared with the frequency in donors from pairs with GVHD (F= 0.923, P= 0.002). Another significant difference was observed for the frequency of the full-length allele of KIR2DS4*001-002, present in 25.2% of the control individuals, but in as much as 81.8% of the recipients of haematopoietic stem cell (P=0.0005). We did not see any statistically significant difference in distribution of the C1/C1, C1/C2 and C2/C2 groups among GVHD pairs. Conclusion: Our results address the difference between the haematopoietic stem cell transplantation settings with sibling and unrelated donors and suggest that the KIR2DS4*001/002 might be a predisposing factor for severe GVHD in sibling HSCT

Basic Science Republic of Macedonia

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to examine the gene frequencies of 16 KIR genes and pseudogenes and KIR genotypes in Macedonian patients with transplanted bone marrow and their sibling donors in treatment of haematological malignancy, and to analyse eventual association of the gene content with the occurrence of a graft versus host disease (GVHD). Material and Methods: The study was performed on 24 patients and their HLA-matched sibling donors. Results: Comparison of KIR gene frequencies between the total 24 donors and healthy Macedonians reveals statistically significant difference for KIR2DS1 (F= 0.481 in the controls group, and 0.76 in the patients group, p=0.004). This significance is even higher when the frequency of KIR2DS1 in controls is compared with the frequency in donors from pairs with GVHD (F= 0.923, P= 0.002). Another significant difference was observed for the frequency of the full-length allele of KIR2DS4*001-002, present in 25.2% of the control individuals, but in as much as 81.8% of the recipients of haematopoietic stem cell (P=0.0005). We did not see any statistically significant difference in distribution of the C1/C1, C1/C2 and C2/C2 groups among GVHD pairs. Conclusion: Our results address the difference between the haematopoietic stem cell transplantation settings with sibling and unrelated donors and suggest that the KIR2DS4*001/002 might be a predisposing factor for severe GVHD in sibling HSCT

Immunoglobulin Classes and Subclasses in Macedonian Elderly People Maced

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the association of HLA-A, -C and -B genes with ankylosing spondylitis in patients from the Republic of Macedonia. Material and Methods: This study included 307 subjects (250 healthy individuals and 57 patients with ankylosing spondylitis who were diagnosed at the University Clinic of Rheumatology in Skopje). The HLA typing of class 1 (HLA-A, HLA-C and HLA-B) genes was performed using the method of Reverse Line Strip, after isolation of DNK from the blood leucocytes with the standard phenol-chloroforme method. The HLA sub typing of HLA-B*27 was performed with high resolution single-strand polymorphism