Patients with multiple sclerosis carry DQB1 genes which encode shared polymorphic amino acid sequences

Hum Immunol. 1989 Jun;25(2):103-10. doi: 10.1016/0198-8859(89)90074-8.

Abstract

Of 61 Norwegian multiple sclerosis patients tested, 59, i.e., 97%, were positive for at least one of the HLA specificities DR2, DR4, or DRw6. Typing with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes revealed that the same 59 patients carried DR2-, DR4-, or DRw6-associated HLA-DQB1 genes which encode shared polymorphic amino acid sequences in the membrane-distal part of their HLA-DQ beta chains. This shared DQ beta polymorphism may explain previously reported DR associations and could thus be the primary HLA association in MS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • DNA Probes, HLA
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genes, MHC Class I
  • Genetic Markers
  • HLA-DQ Antigens / genetics*
  • HLA-DR Antigens / analysis
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Multiple Sclerosis / blood
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic

Substances

  • DNA Probes, HLA
  • Genetic Markers
  • HLA-DQ Antigens
  • HLA-DR Antigens