Class II (HLA-DRB1, HLA-DQB1, and HLA-DPB1) antigen-presenting proteins have crucial roles in the adaptive immune response.26, 27 The HLA-DPB1 alleles associated with rs2856830 (HLA-DPB1*02:01/02:02/16:01) in the current study have also previously been linked to susceptibility to hard metal lung diseases, such as berylliosis.28, 29 A number of individual amino acid residues in the peptide-binding pockets of the HLA-DPB1 molecule affect its function and T-cell recognition, either by changing peptide antigen binding or the conformation of the peptide-binding groove.30 This evidence concerns the gene HLA-DQB1 and chronic beryllium disease.