Multiplex HLA-typing by pyrosequencing.

Class I and II loci of the human leukocyte antigens (HLA) represent the most polymorphic region of the genome. Evolutionary pressure has resulted in a large number of allelic variants of these loci ensuring the high frequency of heterozygous genotypes observed in human populations. Molecular techniques, including sequencing, are capable of precisely defining HLA alleles.

Identification of novel IGRP epitopes targeted in type 1 diabetes patients.

CD8(+) T cells play an important role in the development of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in NOD mice and humans. IGRP (islet-specific glucose-6-phosphatase catalytic subunit-related protein) has emerged in recent years as a major antigen in NOD mice. Therefore, we aimed to determine if IGRP is an antigen in T1D patients and to identify the HLA-A2-restricted IGRP epitopes targeted.

HLA-DQA1 and -DQB1 alleles in Latino and African American children with diabetes mellitus.

Few studies have described the genetics of childhood diabetes mellitus (DM) in US minorities. High-risk DQA1 and DQB1 alleles (DQA1*0301, DQB1*0201, and DQB1*0302 in African Americans and Latinos, and DQA1 *0501 in African Americans) were identified from previous studies and tested in 45 African American and 26 Latino patients from the population-based Chicago Childhood Diabetes Registry, and in 50 healthy race-matched controls. Sixteen of the African American patients and three Latinos had youth-onset type 2 DM and were analyzed separately.