Restriction fragment length polymorphism of the HLA-DP subregion and correlations to HLA-DP phenotypes

The restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the class II HLA-DP subregion of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of humans has been unraveled by Southern blotting using DP alpha and DP beta probes in a study of 46 unrelated individuals with known HLA-DP types. Contrary to earlier preliminary findings with a limited number of enzymes, the RFLP appears to be quite extensive both with the DP beta (14 different DNA markers defined by individual fragments or clusters thereof) and the DP alpha (8 markers) probes, especially when enzymes recognizing only four base pairs were used. A few markers were absolutely or strongly associated with individual DP antigens, whereas most were associated with two or more DP antigens as defined by primed lymphocyte typing. Thus, Southern blotting seems feasible for typing for most DP determinants by specific fragments or subtraction between the various more broadly reactive DNA markers, and the RFLP provides further information on the DP subregion in addition to that provided by primed lymphocyte typing. In two recombinant families, the DP beta and DP alpha DNA markers segregated with DP antigens, whereas the DR beta, DQ beta, DQ alpha, and DX alpha markers followed the DR and DQ antigens.