Comparison of HLA class II alleles in Gypsy and Czech populations by DNA typing with oligonucleotide probes.

Czechs (CZ) and Gypsies (GY) have lived in the same country for several centuries but seem to have different migratory origins. We have studied 99 CZ and compared them with 34 GY from an isolated group living in Czechoslovakia. DRB1, DRB3, DRB4, DRB5, DQA1, DQB1 and DPB1 alleles were determined by PCR followed by oligonucleotide hybridization.

HLA-DPB1*0301 is a major risk factor for rheumatoid factor-negative adult rheumatoid arthritis.

HLA-DPB1 alleles were determined using the polymerase chain reaction and allele-specific oligonucleotide probes in Caucasoid patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in healthy controls. DPB1*0301 was found to be increased in seronegative patients (50.0% versus 10.

DNA typing for HLA-DR, and -DP alleles in a Chinese population using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and oligonucleotide probes.

We have determined alleles of HLA-DRB1, DRB3, DRB5, DQA1, DQB1, and DPB1 loci in 91 unrelated healthy individuals from North China. Group-specific PCR primers were employed for the analysis of subsets of DR1, DR2, DR4, DRw52, and DPB. With allele-specific probes, 22 DRB1, 8 DQA1, 13 DQB1, and 12 DPB1 alleles were found in this panel.

Immunogenetics of rheumatoid arthritis and juvenile arthritis.

Starting with the historical background and ending with the most recent data obtained by DNA typing, using PCR and oligonucleotide probes, the role of HLA antigens in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in several forms of juvenile arthritis (JA) is reviewed. RA is thought to be associated with an epitope of the third hypervariable region of DRB1 which is shared by several alleles including DR4-Dw4, Dw14, Dw15, DR1, DRw14.2, and DRw10.

DNA typing for class II HLA antigens with allele-specific or group-specific amplification. IV. Typing for alleles of the HLA-DR2 group.

In this study we present an approach for the definition of the alleles belonging to the HLA-DR2 group by DNA typing with oligonucleotide probes. Following methodology similar to that we used previously for the definition of other HLA-DR subsets, we have now developed primers for DR2-DRB1 and DR2-DRB5 amplification, and probes for the identification of sequences that distinguish the subtypes of this group of genes. The method used defines all the previously described alleles at both DR2-associated DRB loci.

DNA typing for class II HLA antigens with allele-specific or group-specific amplification. III. Typing for 24 alleles of HLA-DP.

The second exon of HLA-DPB includes five polymorphic segments with extensive sharing of sequences between alleles. In order to facilitate assignment of specificities in heterozygous individuals, we have used group-specific amplification of two nonoverlapping sets of DPB alleles (here called group A and group B) with especially designed primers. Group A and group B polymerase chain reaction products were hybridized with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes generating easily recognizable patterns which defined 24 distinct HLA-DPB alleles.

Alleles at four HLA class II loci determined by oligonucleotide hybridization and their associations in five ethnic groups.

The use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and oligonucleotide hybridization offers a new approach for the definition of HLA class II alleles. It has been possible to determine 43 alleles of DRB1, four of DRB3, two of DRB4, four of DRB5, eight of DQA1, and 14 of DQB1. These alleles are inherited together in members of families and form closely associated groups which are found repeatedly and in characteristic patterns in different populations.

HLA antigens and risk for development of pemphigus foliaceus (fogo selvagem) in endemic areas of Brazil.

Endemic pemphigus foliaceus (EPF), is an autoimmune disease associated with production of IgG antibodies against epidermal antigens. We have tested 38 patients and 50 control subjects living in endemic areas to investigate whether HLA genes are associated with host factors that determine whether or not exposed individuals will develop this disease. A variant of HLA-DR1, an antigen common in Blacks (DRB1*0102), was found to be the main susceptibility factor (relative risk = 7.

HLA antigens in juvenile arthritis. Pauciarticular and polyarticular juvenile arthritis are immunogenetically distinct.

Using DNA techniques, we investigated the role of HLA-DR, DQ, and DP alleles in susceptibility to juvenile arthritis (JA). We studied 2 groups of patients with JA having a different disease prognosis and course. The pauciarticular form is usually benign, while the polyarticular disease frequently leads to joint destruction and disability.

DNA typing for class II HLA antigens with allele-specific or group-specific amplification. II. Typing for alleles of the DRw52-associated group.

Codons 9-12 of the first domain of DRB1, which encode the amino acid sequence EYST (in single-letter code), served as the basis for the construction of a polymerase chain reaction primer specific for DRB1 of the whole DRw52 group. Using this primer for the 5' end and a primer for a conserved region at the 3' end, we could amplify selectively the DRB1 genes of DRw17-, w18-, w11-, w13-, w14, and w8-positive haplotypes. DRB3 genes of DR3,DR5 and DRw6 were also specifically amplified, separately.

DNA typing for class II HLA antigens with allele-specific or group-specific amplification. I. Typing for subsets of HLA-DR4.

DNA sequences that distinguish the subsets of HLA-DR4 are also found on several other alleles. This makes typing of heterozygotes with oligonucleotide probes quite impractical. We have therefore developed a procedure in which, in a first step, DNA of the genes to be analyzed is amplified selectively, using group-specific primers.