HLAMatchmaker: a molecularly based algorithm for histocompatibility determination. V. Eplet matching for HLA-DR,...

This report describes the design of the eplet version of HLAMatchmaker to determine class II compatibility at the structural level. This matching algorithm is based on the hypothesis, developed from molecular modeling of crystallized antigen-antibody complexes, that functional epitopes are represented by patches of surface-exposed nonself-amino acid residues surrounded by residues within a 3-A radius. Patch determinations with a molecular viewer of crystalline structural models downloaded from the Entrez Molecular Modeling Database Web site led to the identification of 44 DRB, 33DQB, 29 DQA, 20 DPB, and 9 DPA unique combinations of polymorphic positions. The residue compositions of these patches were then determined from amino acid sequences. This analysis resulted in a repertoire of 146 DRB, 74 DQB, 58 DQA, 45 DPB, and 19 DPA eplets. In many eplets, the residues are in short linear sequences, but many other eplets have discontinuous sequences of residues that cluster on or near the molecular surface. This analysis has also shown that all serologically defined DR and DQ antigens detectable by monospecific antibodies have unique eplets. Other eplets are present in groups of class II antigens, many of which appear as cross-reacting. The eplet version of HLAMatchmaker should be considered as a hypothetical model for the structural assessment of donor-recipient compatibility and the determination of mismatch acceptability for sensitized patients. This computer algorithm can be downloaded from the HLA Matchmaker Webside at http://tpis.upmc.edu.