A new HTC, a PLT and a PLT clone define a split of HLA-DR2 in the Austrian population

An LD defined split of HLA-DR2, different from HLA-Dw2, Dw12 and DB9, is observed in the Austrian population. The narrow HLA-D specificity, defined by a new Austrian Homozygous Typing Cell (HTC), a primed lymphocyte (PLT) cell line and a PLT clone, is tentatively termed HLA-D"WH". Investigation of three informative families shows that HLA-D"WH" segregated together with HLA-DR2. In one family, even an individual heterozygous for HLA-DR2/Dw2 and HLA-DR2/D"WH" can be identified. A panel study including 90 non-related Austrians shows that HLA-D"WH" occurring in 6.7% of the whole panel, that is in 20% of the HLA-DR2 positive panel members, is completely included in HLA-DR2. HLA-D"WH" might be comparable to other LD specificities related to HLA-DR2, "MN2", "FJO", "AZH" or "GEN".