HLA-DP, -DQ and -DR RFLP types in South Indian insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients

Abstract: : The frequencies of HLA-DP, DQ and DR RFLP types are compared between insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients and healthy controls in the South Indian population. There are no significant differences in the frequencies of any of the DPA.DPB haplotypes, when allowance is made for multiple comparisons. The individual frequencies of two novel alleles, designated "DPA*B" and "DPB*B", however, are significantly higher in controls than in patients, suggesting that these alleles are protective against IDDM. A negative association with DRwl5 (DR2).Dwl2 is also observed. The positive association with DPw3/6 RFLPs previously observed in White Australians is not present in South Indians. This difference may be due either to undetected heterogeneity within allelic classes or to different linkage disequilibrium patterns between the populations.