Asthma Allergy Immunology

Asthma Allergy Immunology

HLA Class II Alleles Associated with Bronchial Asthma in the Karakalpakstan Population: An Immunogenetic Case-Control Study

Sardarkhodja KURGANOV¹ , Ilmira RAZIKOVA¹ , ² , Nargiza AYDAROVA¹ , Venera BAYBEKOVA¹ , Gulmira RAZIKOVA¹ ,

1 Republican Scientific and Specialized Allergological Center, Tashkent, Uzbekistan ² Tashkent Medical Academy, Tashkent, Uzbekistan

DOI: 10.21911/aai.2026.1291
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Objective: Bronchial asthma is a complex inflammatory disorder shaped by genetic susceptibility and environmental exposures. This immunogenetic case-control study aimed to investigate the association between HLA class II genes and bronchial asthma in a Central Asian population chronically exposed to Aral Sea-related airborne pollutants.

Materials and Methods: High-resolution genotyping of the HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1, and HLA-DRB1 loci was performed in patients with bronchial asthma and age- and sex-matched conditionally healthy controls.

Results: Asthma patients exhibited markedly elevated total IgE levels and widespread allergen-specific sensitization, supporting the predominance of an IgE-driven allergic endotype. Significant associations with increased asthma risk were identified for the HLA- DQB103:03 and HLA-DRB107 alleles, whereas HLA-DRB110 and HLA-DRB111 demonstrated potential protective effects. No independent association was observed for HLA-DQA1 alleles.

Conclusion: This study provides the first immunogenetic evidence of HLA class II involvement in bronchial asthma within an environmentally stressed Central Asian population characterized by chronic exposure to Aral Sea-related airborne pollutants. These findings underscore the importance of gene-environment interactions and support the integration of immunogenetic markers into future risk stratification and personalized prevention strategies in high-exposure regions.

Keywords : Asthma, genetic susceptibility, HLA class II, IgE, Karakalpakstan