Linkage between HLA-DRB1 and -DRB3 types in the Japanese population analyzed by oligonucleotide genotyping.

We analyzed linkage between HLA-DRB1 and -DRB3 types in 219 Japanese donors by oligonucleotide genotyping. In the Japanese population, DRB1*1201 was linked with DRB3*0101 in all donors analyzed; in contrast, most Caucasian DRB1*1201 is known to be linked with DRB3*02(01/02) (*0201 or *0202). However, most DRB1*1202 was linked with DRB3*0301. Thus, the two DRw12-related DRB1 types are linked with DRB3 types distinct from each other. All the three DRw14-related DRB1 types, DRB1*1401, DRB1*1402, and DRB1*1405, were linked with DRB3*02(01/02) in the Japanese population, contrasting with the known linkage between DRB1*1402 and DRB3*0101 in other ethnic populations. The serologically "blank" DR type, DRB1*1403, was linked with DRB3*0101. Other DRB1 types, DRB1*0301, DRB1*11(01/04) (*1101 or *1104), and DRB1*13(01/02) (*1301 or *1302) in the Japanese population were linked mostly with the same DRB3 types, like those known in other ethnic populations.