Identification of HLA-DRw52 associated antigens using HLA class II allogenotyping

The HLA-DR antigens DRw8, DRw11, DRw12, DRw13, DRw14 and DRw17 are strongly associated with the supertypic specificity DRw52. This association has been used to assist in assignment of serological specificity. However, difficulties in the identification of these antigens arise since they are serologically crossreactive. This report describes the application of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) allogenotyping to assist in the positive identification of DRw8, DRw11, DRw12, DRw13, DRw14, DRw17, DRw52a and DRw52b, and in addition describes further subtypes defined by RFLP which correlate with DQ or Dw associations. We also describe a novel TaqI/DR beta RFLP in a Caucasian family which types serologically as DRw12.