DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms characteristic for Dw subtypes of DR2

DNA restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) can be easily demonstrated in DNA of cells expressing different DR specificities when class II cDNA probes are used for hybridization. Previous studies of DR4+ homozygous typing cells (HTCs) carrying different Dw subtypes, however, detected no RFLP correlating with subtypes. In contrast, we report here Southern blotting studies of DR2+ HTCs carrying different subtypes which showed RFLP patterns characteristic for each subtype, using both DR beta and DQ beta probes and several restriction enzymes. The RFLP between subtypes of DR2 was, however, appreciably lower than that found between DR specificities.     

上海人群中HLA-DR7单倍型同时表达两种纯合分型细胞检出的特异性Dw7c及Dw3

采用国际组织相容性会议提供的纯合分型细胞(HTC)和血清对上海地区56例无亲缘关系个体作HLA-A、B、C、D、DR、DQ分型并研究中国人DR-Dw关系后,发现11例Dw3阳性个体中仅5例表达命名相当的DR3特异性,另外6例Dw3阳性者却与DR7及Dw7c(Dw7+Dw17)共同表达于一条单倍型,使同一个体呈现HLA-D“三联体”这样一种未曾报导过的格局。中国人Dw3因而分成两类:一类见于传统的单倍型HLA-DR3-Dw3;另一类组成新单倍型HLA-DR7-Dw7c-Dw30。间接证据表明,后者的出现可能是中国人中一个新的HLA-DQw2分裂体同时参与Dw7c及Dw3功能表达并被HTC所识别的结果。     

Clonal analysis of HLA-DR and -DQ associated determinants: Their contribution to Dw specificities

In order to investigate the distribution of epitopes recognized by T-cell clones directed against HLA class II products, bulk primed cell populations were generated using cells matched for class I determinants but disparate for class II determinants. Cells were cloned by single cell deposition (FACS IV) or limiting dilution (1 cell/3 wells), and assayed for proliferative and cytolytic function with panels of well-characterized cells. All cytolytic clones generated from an anti-DR4/Dw4/DQw3 priming combination or an anti-DR2/Dw2/DQw1 priming combination lysed essentially all targets sharing the same Dw type as the sensitizing cell. In some cases, other targets were also lysed. For instance, some clones were lytic to targets bearing the same DR antigen but another Dw subtype including a few clones lytic to virtually all cells carrying that DR specificity. An occasional target cell expressing a different DR antigen from the sensitizing cell was also lysed by these clones, in some cases to the same extent of lysis seen on the specific target. Monoclonal antibody inhibition studies identified three groups of clones: the DQ directed clones and clones apparently directed at more than one DR product. However, the number of molecules detected for each haplotype remains to be investigated. Our data indicate that determinants detected on both DR and DQ products are associated with the Dw type of the sensitizing cell showing that there is polymorphism recognized by T cells on both DR and DQ that is subtypic to the serologically defined specificities. Thus, it appears that the bulk T-cell response is a composite of individual clones recognizing distinct determinants on these class II molecules. The implications of these findings for studies of HLA restricted recognition are discussed.     

Full-length DQβ cDNA sequences of HLA-DR2/DQw1 subtypes: Genetic interactions between two DQβ loci generate human class II HLA diversity

Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of DQ molecules from three different Dw subtypes (Dw2, Dw12, and Dw21/FJO) of the HLA-DR2/DQw1 haplotype reveals that one β heterodimer of DQ molecule is expressed by each subtype and the DQB chain is electrophoretically variable among the three DR2/DQw1 subtypes. We have constructed cDNA libraries from the same homozygous typing cells used in the two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analyses (HTC VYT for Dw2, HTC DHO for Dw12, and HTC FJO for Dw21/FJO) and isolated DQβ cDNA clones with full-length coding sequences for each subtype. The deduced amino acid sequences show that the DQβ chains of these three DR2/DQw1 subtypes are highly polymorphic and confirm their electrophoretic heterogeneity: for a mature protein of 229 amino acids, they differ with each other by 10–17 amino acids in the first domain and by 3–7 residues in the C-terminal sequence. Comparison among the available DQβ sequences representing the four major DQ specificities (DQw1, DQw2, DQw3, and DQw4) in the DQ subregion as defined by serologic method suggests that (1) DR2, Dw2, DQw1 and DR3, DQw2 haplotypes probably interact with each other to generate the DQw3 and DQw4 β alleles and (2) an evolutionary scheme may be proposed to relate the various β alleles of the four major DQ specificities.     

HLA-DR typing using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) with one enzyme and two probes

A panel of 43 homozygous and 36 heterozygous highly selected cells, representing the most common DR-specificities, were investigated with the DNA hybridization technique. By using a single restriction enzyme, TaqI, and two probes, DR beta and DQ alpha, it was possible to construct assignment criteria giving a reasonable definition of DR1, 3, 4, 5, 7 + w9, w8, w10 and w11. The criteria sometimes require that certain bands must not be present. Therefore, in certain genotypic combinations, the presence or absence of the particular specificity on one haplotype cannot be decided. This is a problem only for DR2 and DRw6, which for this reason cannot be assigned in about 1/3 to 1/4 of the cases. The association between RFLP assignment and serological assignment is not absolute, the correlation coefficients ranking from 0.62 to 1.0. In the case of false negative RFLP assignment, this may be due to genetic heterogeneity, as in the case of a DR2 individual who proved to be Dw12 and not Dw2 associated. It is often stated that interpretation of the RFLP pattern is particularly difficult in random or heterozygous individuals compared to proven homozygotes. This is not the case in the present study, where in fact correlation coefficients between RFLP and serologically determined DR specificities were higher in the heterozygotes (range 0.79-1.00).     

Dw subtypes of DR4 in rheumatoid arthritis: evidence for a preferential association with Dw4

We have determined the frequency of the DR4-associated Dw subtypes, defined by homozygous typing cells, in a group of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients on second-line drug therapy. The frequency of DR4 in these patients was 86%. Among Caucasians, the frequency of Dw4 in the DR4-positive patients was significantly increased (68%) as compared to DR4-positive normal individuals (46%; p less than 0.025). Dw4, as compared to the other DR4 subtypes tested, may also be associated with more severe disease as judged by indices of functional impairment and joint damage. In a small subgroup of non-Caucasian (black and Native American) patients, the Dw13 (DB3) subtype of DR4 was often seen, suggesting that RA may have different Dw associations in different ethnic groups.     

The polymorphism of HLA-DR3 in South African populations

The polymorphism of HLA-DR3 was investigated in families and unrelated individuals of three population groups: South African (SA) Negroes, Cape Coloureds and SA Caucasoids. Serological and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis indicated that DR3 could be subdivided into DRw17 (previously DR3.1) and DRw18 (previously DR3.2). In contrast, the two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis patterns could not distinguish between the DRB1 gene products of the HLA-DRw17 and DRw18 cells. Two DRB3 variants, correlating with the T-cell defined specificities Dw24 and Dw25 were identified at the genomic and product level. Of ten haplotypes studied with the newly defined HLA-DRw18 specificity, all had the DRB3 RFLP pattern associated with Dw24. HLA-DRw17 was found in all three population groups tested, although in the SA Negroes HLA-DRw18 was the prevalent DR3 subgroup. This subgroup was also present in the Cape Coloureds but was absent in the SA Caucasoid tested. HLA-DRw18 forms part of the most characteristic SA Negro haplotype, Bw42, DQw4, Dw“RSH,” while HLA-DRw17 is part of the classic Caucasoid haplotype, B8, DQw2, Dw3.     

New Dw8 associated class II specificities defined by cytotoxic T lymphocyte clones

Two Leu2(-), Leu3(+), Leu4(+) human cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) clones, BE-11 and AF-3, were generated against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed cell line GI (Dw8/DRw8/DQWa homozygous). Blocking experiments with various monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) revealed that the former recognized the DR molecule and the latter recognized the DQ molecule, respectively. Panel studies showed that CTL clone BE-11 lysed not only DRw8-positive cells but also DR1-positive ones. CTL clone AF-3 exhibited cytotoxicity against only Dw8/DRw8/DQWa typed cells. Until now, such specificities have not been defined serologically or biochemically. These results demonstrated that the previously unknown DR and DQ specificities could be defined by CTL clones, suggesting that CTL clones might be especially valuable tools for investigating the structural polymorphism of HLA antigens.     

Dw subtypes of serologically defined DR-DQ specificities restrict recognition of cytomegalovirus

We have investigated the relationship between serologically defined (Ia) and T lymphocyte-defined (LD/Dw) determinants in restricted recognition of cytomegalovirus (CMV) by human T lymphocytes. T lymphocytes isolated from CMV seropositive individuals expressing DQw3/DR4/Dw4 antigens were "sensitized" to CMV in vitro; CMV-specific blasts were isolated and tested for their ability to recognize CMV presented by cells expressing different DR4-associated Dw antigens (i.e., Dw4, Dw10, Dw13, Dw14, and Dw15). Similar studies were also performed using T lymphocytes from individuals expressing DQw1/DR2/Dw2 specificities and antigen presenting cells (APC) expressing the DR2-associated Dw/LD subtypes, Dw2, Dw12, and LD-MN2. CMV-specific T cell blasts were used as responding cells in order to reduce nonspecific background alloresponses which occur with allogeneic APC. In all cases it was found that the determinants involved in restricted recognition of CMV were subtypic to the DR-associated Ia specificities. To distinguish whether Dw specificities associated with DQ or with DR molecules, or both, were involved in these responses, we used anti-DR (L243) and an anti-DQwl (S3/4) monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) to block CMV-specific responses. Both MoAb significantly blocked responses, suggesting that determinants associated with both DR and DQ molecules are involved in restricted recognition of CMV by T cells.     

Epitope analysis with monoclonal antibodies directed against class II molecules subdivides HLA-DR2, DR3 and DR4: correlations with cellularly defined Dw specificities

Monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) defining 14 distinct polymorphic epitopes have been produced against the class II antigens of HLA-DR3Dw3DQw2 cells. Population analysis indicates that Mab C1 is directed against the DQw2 specificity and Mab M6 against the DRw52 specificity. The remaining Mabs define epitopes shared by the class II molecules of DR3 and various other specificities. Seven DR3Dw3DQw2 haplotypes were examined and could be divided into two types based on the presence of the epitope defined by Mab M3. Analysis of DR2 and DR4 homozygous cells with these Mabs revealed several distinct patterns of epitope expression. These subdivisions were found to correlate with the cellularly defined Dw specificities.     

HLA-Dw clusters associated with DR4 in Israeli Jews and the definition of a new DR4 associated Dw subtype: Dw"SHA"

A homozygous typing cell (HTC), that identifies a newly defined HLA-Dw determinant Dw"SHA," is described. The donor of the HTC was a Yeminite Jew and an offspring of first cousin marriage. This cell is not included in the known DR4-associated specificity clusters Dw4,Dw10,Dw13,Dw14,Dw15, or the provisional cluster Dw"KT2." Dw"SHA" was shown to segregate with DR4 positive haplotypes in family analysis, and in a population study was present in three of 43 unrelated DR4 positive individuals. This new Dw determinant was detected in Israeli Jews of Yemenite origin bearing the haplotype HLA-Bw41,DR4,DQw3. This indicates that Bw41,DR4,DQw3,Dw"SHA" may represent a typical allele combination in Yemenite Jews. Among 43 DR4 haplotypes in Israeli Jews, Dw10 had the highest antigen frequency (41.8%), whereas in American Caucasoids and in Japanese, Dw4 and Dw15 were most frequent, 44% and 40.5%, respectively.     

Large haplotype-specific differences in inter-genic distances in human MHC shown by pulsed field electrophoresis mapping of healthy and Type 1 diabetic subjects

Type 1 diabetes is associated with extended haplotypes defined by combinations of specific alleles of genes in the MHC. We have used pulsed field gel electrophoresis mapping to examine the gross structure of the Class II region of the MHC and its relationship to susceptibility to Type 1 diabetes. We have studied heterozygous members of a family in which susceptibility to Type 1 diabetes is associated with an A1/B8/DR3 haplotype and resistance with A2/B7/DR2, an unrelated diabetic DR3,4 patient and a healthy DR4,w10 subject and a DR2/Dw2 cell line. Digestion was performed with the enzymes Sst II, Mlu I, and Pvu I and hybridization with 21-hydroxylase, DRA, DQB, DOB and DPA probes. Within the DQ/DR region the DR4- and DR7-bearing haplotypes studied contain insertions of 140-150kb relative to the DR3 haplotypes whilst the DR2 haplotype in the family was smaller than the DR3 haplotypes by 130kb, whilst that in the cell line was smaller by up to 220kb. This cell line, previously thought to be homozygous by consanguinity, was also shown to be heterozygous in the DP region. Although no differences between diabetic and healthy subjects were observed within the family, these differences in long-range structure may be of importance to the etiology of Type 1 diabetes, as well as to the evolution of the MHC.     

Serological biochemical and functional characterisation of three different HLA-DR monoclonal antibodies derived from C57BL6 mice

C57BL6 mice which do not express I-E gene products were immunised with EBV transformed human B cell lines to generate MoAbs. Three hybridoma supernatants which initially reacted with the immunising donor cell but not a T cell line lacking Class II antigens were further investigated. I-D SDS-PAGE patterns of molecules precipitated by the three supernatants from a cell membrane lysate were characteristic of HLA-Class II alpha and beta chains. Two-dimensional analysis established the specificity of the supernatants as HLA-DR specific. This was confirmed by the reaction patterns with Class II mutant deletant cell lines. In both ELISA and cytotoxicity one reacted with all lymphoblastoid cell lines tested, one reacted with all except two that were DR7 homozygous and the third reacted strongly only with cells that were DR3. All three antibodies were cytotoxic to both peripheral blood lymphocytes and EBV transformed B cell lines. The DR3 specific MoAb (IgG2a) was suitable as a typing reagent. The DR3 reactive MoAb specifically inhibited stimulation by a Dw3 HTC and the other two MoAbs inhibited all HTCs tested. These findings are consistent with the view that certain determinants responsible for the Dw specificities are carried on the DR molecules.     

HLA-DR4 associated Dw types in rheumatoid arthritis

Frequencies of HLA-DR4 and its related Dw types were compared between randomly selected normal controls and the index cases of multiplex rheumatoid arthritis (RA) families. A DR4 frequency of 68.3% was observed in index cases (n = 57) compared to 31.2% in normal controls (n = 96). Cellular typing with homozygous typing cells (HTCs) revealed significant increases of Dw4 (49.1% vs 22.9% RR = 3.2 p less than 0.001) and Dw14 (22.8% vs 2.1% RR = 13.9 p less than 0.001) in the index cases. A non-significant increase was seen for Dw13 (8.8% vs 4.1%). When DR4 positive patients and controls were compared, a significant increase was seen only for Dw14 (34.2% vs 6.6% RR = 7.3 p less than 0.01). Data from HLA genotyped RA and normal families allowed an examination of haplotype combinations of HLA-B antigens and DR4/Dw types to be made. HLA-Dw4 was predominantly found with B44 and Bw62 with nearly all DR4/Bw62 haplotypes being Dw4 positive. HLA-Dw13 was associated with B44 and Dw14 with Bw60, B44 and B27. Based on HTC and normal family data. Dw10 was found to be strongly associated with B38 containing haplotypes. Analysis of 69 C4A, C4B complement typed DR4 haplotypes failed to show any statistically significant association between Dw type and "complotype". However, there was a suggestion of C4A3. BQO being associated with Dw4 (34.2% vs 16.1% X2 = 2.9 p = ns) and C4A3, B1 with Dw14 (45.5% vs 27.6% X2 = 2.1 p = ns).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

HLA-DR-DQ haplotypes defined by restriction fragment analysis. Correlation to serology

Through the analysis of RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) of the HLA-DR beta, -DQ alpha, and -DQ beta genes from 70 serologically well-characterized individuals, we have established unique HLA-DR-DQ RFLP haplotypes correlating to all of the DR1-w14 specificities. The RFLP of DR beta, DQ alpha, and DQ beta genes is very high using the restriction enzyme TaqI and 21 DR-DQ RFLP haplotypes were defined with this restriction enzyme. Our analysis confirms the strong linkage disequilibrium between alleles in the DR and DQ loci. DR beta RFLP indicates a common ancestor for the DR alleles within either of the supertypic DRw52 and DRw53 specificities. The DQ beta gene shows a high degree of RFLP, and the RFLP alleles partly reflect the serologic DQw1-w3 specificities. The results presented here also demonstrate the heterogeneity of DRw6 (DRw13 and DRw14) associated haplotypes, and the DRw13 related Dw18 and Dw19 specificities were found to have distinct DR-DQ haplotypes. The DQw1 positive haplotypes DR1, 2, w10, w13, and w14 are related with regard to DQ alpha and DQ beta RFLPs and the DRw52 positive haplotypes DR3, w11, and w12, as well as the DRw53 positive haplotypes DR4, 7, and w9, are related with regard to DR beta and DQ alpha RFLPs. These findings indicate that polymorphic sequences around the DQ alpha gene are associated with DR beta and DQ beta polymorphism, which suggests a location of the DQ alpha gene between DR beta and DQ beta.     

Intra HLA–D Region Recombinant Maps HLA–DR between HLA–B and HLA–D

A consanguineous family has been typed for HLA-A, B, C, D, DR and GLO, Bf, C2 and C4 and other red cell markers. The results indicate that an expected Dw7 homozygous sibling is a "Dw1"/Dw7 recombinant, probably derived from a crossing over between DR and D on the paternal haplotypes. The anomalous typings by Dw1 HTCs of the recombinant haplotype are best explained by the likely presence of an additional Lad polymorphism which could be a serologically detectable second epitope on the same molecule as the HLA-D determinant or in the form of two linked chains, one encoded by HLA-D and one by another Lad gene in the HLA haplotype.     

Southern analysis of DNA polymorphism among Dw subtypes of DR4

DNA from individuals of four Dw subtypes of DR4 (Dw4, Dw10, Dw14, Dw15) were studied using Southern blotting to determine if subtype-specific DR beta or DQ beta restriction fragment polymorphism could be found. Although very little polymorphism was found among ten DR4 homozygous individuals (4 Dw4, 2 Dw10, 3 Dw14, 1 Dw15) using a Dr beta or a DQ beta probe, restriction fragment polymorphism was easily detected between different DR types (DR1-DRw8). The possible evolutionary significance of the lack of Dw-associated polymorphism relative to DR-associated polymorphism is discussed.     

A deletion mutant defines DQ beta variants with DR4 positive DQw3 positive haplotypes

We describe the production of an HLA deletion mutation by radiation mutagenesis of a DR4- and DQw3-homozygous, Dw4- and Dw14-heterozygous cell line designed to analyze polymorphisms associated with DR4 and DQw3. Southern blot analysis confirms a deletion of class I and class II genes on one haplotype. Variation in DQ beta alleles associated with DQw3 was previously described by characteristic RFLP patterns for a DQ beta bene. One pattern, which correlated precisely with A-10-83 monoclonal antibody reactivity (TA10), defined an allele which we call DQ"3.1". The mutant cell line has lost the polymorphic bands on Southern blots corresponding to the DQ"3.1" allele, while the intact Dw14 haplotype retains the alternate allele at DQ beta which is DQw-3 positive. TA10-negative. These data demonstrate the segregation of two DQw3 positive DQ beta allelic variants, both associated with DR4, which can be distinguished on the basis of both RFLP and monoclonal antibody reactivity.     

Autoimmunogenic HLA-DRB1*0301 allele (DR3) may be distinguished at the DRB1 non-coding regions of HLA-B8,DR3,Dw24 and B18,DR3,Dw25 haplotypes.

A novel TaqI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of 4.15 kb is reported using a DR beta probe (pRTV1). This fragment corresponds to the DRB1 locus and allows the subdivision at the DNA level of the DRB1*0301 allele (DR3 antigen), which had not previously been reported. Both splits also distinguish each of the two DR3-bearing extended haplotypes (HLA-B8,SCO1,DR3,DQw2,Dw24 and B18,F1C30,DR3,DQw2,Dw25) found associated to several autoimmune diseases as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and myasthenia gravis. The fact that no polymorphism in the DRB1*0301 coding DNA sequence has been detected indicates that DRB1*0301 intronic, regulatory of neighbouring sequences might also contribute to differential disease associations (and pathogenic mechanisms) found linked to each of the two DR3-bearing haplotypes, i.e. IDDM and B8,DR3,Dw24 in North European/American Caucasoids vs IDDM and B18,DR3,Dw25 in Mediterraneans; SLE and B8,DR3,Dw24 in children vs SLE and B18,DR3,Dw25 in Spanish adults.     

Serology, restriction fragment length polymorphism, and sequence analysis of a unique HLA class II antigen, DR5x6.

We analyzed a new class II HLA haplotype, which we have designated DR5x6, by serology, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and sequence analysis. As the name DR5x6 implies, the antigen is serologically closely related to both DR5 and DRw6. RFLP analysis of this haplotype suggests a close similarity with DRw11 haplotypes. The DNA sequences encoded by the second exon of its DRB1, DRB3, and DQB1 genes were also determined. Comparison of these sequences with those of alleles at these loci in other haplotypes suggests that this haplotype could have evolved from a DRw11 ancestor haplotype (DRw11-DRw52b (Dw25)-DQw7) by means of: (a) a gene conversion at the DRB1 locus involving DRw8 (Dw8.3) as the sequence donor, plus a point mutation or a gene conversion involving DR4-Dw4; and (b) a recombination event by which this haplotype would have acquired the DRw5a (Dw24) allele at the DRB3 locus.