Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II genetic relationships with brain imaging measures: A systematic review and meta-analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizes current evidence on associations between genetic polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II molecules, which play key roles in antigen presentation and immune response regulation, and brain imaging phenotypes across various neurological and psychiatric conditions. The strongest associations were observed in multiple sclerosis (MS), where HLA-DRB1*15:01 was linked to increased lesion volume and disease progression. Meta-analyses revealed significant pooled effect sizes for both T1 and T2 lesion volumes. Emerging evidence also suggests that variants in HLA class I and II genes contribute to brain structural changes associated with age-related cognitive decline, schizophrenia, and Gulf War illness. Our findings revealed stronger patterns of association between HLA class II polymorphisms with brain imaging implications as compared to class I in neurodegenerative conditions. Considering HLA class II roles in exogenous protein/peptide presentation, this highlights the potential importance of neuroimmune-environmental interactions as contributing factors to disease pathogenesis and progression. Population-based studies from the UK Biobank highlight the potential influence of HLA class I and II genetic polymorphisms on brain structure beyond disease-specific contexts, suggesting broader implications for neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration. Despite these emerging insights, the limited availability of studies using imaging modalities beyond structural MRI, along with inconsistent findings within specific diseases and across conditions, underscores the need for further investigation into the mechanistic contributions of specific genetic variants on impacting brain structural and functional outcomes. Future research should include larger, more diverse study cohorts and employ advanced genotyping technologies to provide a more comprehensive investigations of HLA's role on brain health across the lifespan.