Major histocompatibility complex class-II alleles in primary biliary cirrhosis

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-II alleles at the DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 loci were investigated in 40 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and 43 local healthy controls. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was used for DRB1 typing. DQB1 and DPB1 regions were amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and then probed with 32P-labelled allele-specific oligonucleotide probes. There was an increased frequency of DR8 (10% compared to 4% in controls), and a decreased frequency of DR2 (18% compared with 28% in controls) in patients with PBC, but the differences were not significant. There were no significant differences for the other DR alleles, the seven DQ alleles, or the eight DP alleles. In conclusion, no significant MHC class-II associations with primary biliary cirrhosis have been demonstrated.