21-Hydroxylase gene mutant allele CYP21A2∗15 strongly linked to the resistant HLA haplotype B∗14:02-DRB1∗01:02 in chronic Chagas disease

We previously reported protective haplotype HLA-B∗14:02-DRB1∗01:02 against chronic Chagas disease in Bolivia. The V281L mutant allele of the 21-Hydroxylase gene, CYP21A2∗15, is reported to be located in the Class III region of the Human leukocyte antigen region and linked to the haplotype HLA-B∗14:02-DRB1∗01:02. The mutant allele might play a primary role in the pathogenesis of chronic Chagas disease in the associated HLA region. We analyzed the frequency of this allele in the same subjects for the previous one. The statistical analysis showed a significant association of the CYP21A2∗15 with resistance to severe chronic Chagas disease (OR = 0.207273; Pv = 0.0041). However, there is no significant tendency of the mutant gene contribution to the resistance after the elimination of the HLA-B∗14:02-DRB1∗01:02 linked mutants (OR = 0.38; Pv = 0.1533). Although the frequency of the CYP21A2∗15 was small, we found no primary contribution of this mutation to the protection against chronic Chagas disease.