Gluten-sensitive enteropathy is most strongly associated with –: (A) HLA–DQ2, (B) BLA–DR4, (C) HLA–DQ3, (D) Blood group B
Answer is A. Almost all individuals with celiac disease share the major histocompatibility complex II HLA-DQ2 or HLA-DQ8.
Gliadin is deamidated by the enzyme transglutaminase and deamidated gliadin peptides bind to DQ2 and DQ8.
Recognition of these peptides by CD4+ T cells leads to secretion of IFN-γ, which damages the intestinal wall.