A 'new' DR4 associated D specificity 'JA' in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes: A9, Bw16, DJA, DR4 haplotype

The HLA antigen combination A9, Bw16 has been found to be associated with Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes characterized by some special features in Northern Finland. This antigen combination has now been associated with a 'new' DR4-associated D antigen, provisionally called 'JA' or 'SN'. This 'new' D specificity was also associated with HLA-B18. Although the combination, Dw3/DJA, was common in Type 1 diabetic patients, the frequency of the combination Dw4/DJA was decreased compared with the expected value. This supports the hypothesis of two different risk factors associated with DR3 and DR4.