Expression of HLA‐DQA1 and HLA‐DQB1 genes in B lymphocytes,monocytes and whole blood

Differential expression of HLA‐DQA1 and HLA‐DQB1 gene alleles was analysed in three different cell populations isolated from peripheral blood—B lymphocytes, monocytes and whole‐blood cells. Interallelic differences in mRNA levels were observed: DQA1*03 alleles were among the most expressed in all cell types, whereas DQA1*05 alleles were least expressed in whole blood and monocytes and among the most expressed in B cells. For DQB1 gene, DQB1*06 group of alleles were the most expressed, and DQB1*02 group the least expressed within all cell populations examined. In comparison with the rest alleles, DQB1*06 and DQB1*05:02 alleles have higher expression in monocytes than in B cells, professional antigen‐presenting cells. Cell type‐specific regulation of expression was observed as well, with higher and more balanced expression of alleles in B lymphocytes compared to monocytes.