Diabetes, Celiac, and Thyroid-Related Autoantibodies in HLA Genotyped Ethiopian Children and Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes : A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Autoantibodies against β-cell components in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans are characteristic of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The genetic and autoimmune determinants of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Ethiopians are not yet thoroughly characterized, with studies indicating a lower occurrence of autoantibodies related to T1D compared to Caucasians. The study aimed to determine the occurrence of autoantibodies related to type 1 diabetes (T1D), celiac disease (CD), and autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) in conjunction with Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genotype in Ethiopian children and adolescents with T1D. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 206 children and adolescents with T1D (ranging from 1 to 18 years old) with a median disease duration of 6 years, alongside 200 age-matched control children (ranging from 1 to 6 years old). Participants were recruited from Adama, Asella, and Bishoftu Hospitals in Ethiopia. The study involved genotyping of HLA alleles, specifically HLA-DQA1, DQB1, and DRB1 ^∗04 (including DR4 subtypes). Additionally, autoantibodies targeting glutamic acid decarboxylase (GADA), insulinoma-associated protein (IA-2A), zinc transporter 8 (ZnT8A), tissue transglutaminase (tTGA), and thyroid peroxidase (TPOA) were analyzed using antibody detection by agglutination PCR (ADAP) assays. Results: The most common haplotype found in participants with T1D was HLA-(DR3)-DQA1 ^∗05-DQB1 ^∗02 haplotype (36.4%) (OR = 5.0; p < 0.000001). In addition, HLA-DRB1 ^∗0405-DQA1 ^∗03-DQB1 ^∗02 (19.3%, OR = 10.8; p < 0.000001), HLA-DRB1 ^∗0405-DQA1 ^∗03-DQB1 ^∗0302 (9.2%, OR = 3.1; p = 0.001), and HLA-DRB1 ^∗0401-DQA1 ^∗03-DQB1 ^∗0302 (3.2%, OR = 20.0; p = 0.002) were significantly increased among T1D patients. Conversely, HLA-(DR15)-DQB1 ^∗0602, HLA-(DR13)-DQB1 ^∗0603, HLA-(DR1/10)-DQB1 ^∗0501, HLA-(DR13)-DQB1 ^∗0604, HLA-DRB1 ^∗0404-DQA1 ^∗03-DQB1 ^∗04, HLA-(DR7)-DQA1 ^∗0201-DQB1 ^∗02, HLA-(DR11/12/13)-DQA1 ^∗05-DQB1 ^∗0301, and HLA-DRB1 ^∗0403-DQA1 ^∗03-DQB1 ^∗0302 were noted as the most protective haplotypes with a significant p value and, with ORs ranging from 0.05 to 0.5. The overall frequency of any islet autoantibodies in children and adolescents with T1D was 81.1% compared to 5.5% in the control group (p < 0.0001). While comparing antibody positivity between individuals with T1D and controls, GADA was found in 69% versus 2%, IA-2A in 24% versus 1.5%, ZnT8A in 32% versus 2%, tTGA in 14% versus 2%, and TPOA in 17% versus 5%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Individuals carrying DR4-DQ8 or DR3-DQ2 haplotypes exhibited a higher prevalence of IA-2A and tTGA (p ≤ 0.05). Conclusions: The HLA risk profile typical of sub-Saharan African population was observed in Ethiopians with T1D. Furthermore, they have a notably high prevalence of autoantibodies associated with T1D, CD, and AITD, which differs from earlier reports from the region but aligns with patterns observed in Caucasians.

• author: Gudeta, Adugna Negussie ; Lind, Alexander ; Girma, Alemayehu ; Lempainen, Johanna ; Ilonen, Jorma and Agardh, Daniel
• organization: Celiac Disease and Diabetes Unit (research group); EXODIAB: Excellence of Diabetes Research in Sweden; EpiHealth: Epidemiology for Health
• publishing date: 2025
• type: Contribution to journal
• publication status: published
• subject: Endocrinology and Diabetes
• keywords: autoimmune thyroid disease, celiac disease, human leukocyte antigen, islet autoantibodies, type 1 diabetes
• in: Pediatric Diabetes
• volume: 2025
• issue: 1
• article number: 8258430
• publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
• external identifiers: pmid:40860014; scopus:105013549899
• ISSN: 1399-543X
• DOI: 10.1155/pedi/8258430
• language: English
• LU publication?: yes
• id: f7024b4a-0b3e-4d5a-81d2-97badc7ca456
• date added to LUP: 2025-11-19 11:44:12
• date last changed: 2025-11-20 03:00:04