Association between HLA-DRB3*0101 and immunoglobulin-E responsiveness to Bet v I

The relationship between HLA-DRB3 antigens and specific IgE responsiveness to highly purified major allergen from white birch (Betula verrucosa), Bet v I, was studied in 43 patients, who were skin-prick test positive to birch pollen extract. Specific IgE to Bet v I was measured using an assay based on the principle of the Magic Lite method. HLA-DR and -DQ typings were performed by standard restriction fragment-length polymorphism techniques and HLA-DRB3 typing by the use of polymerase chain reaction and sequence-specific oligonucleotide. Of the 43 patients, 41 (95%) exhibited Bet v I-specific IgE. The data showed a significant association between HLA-DRB3*0101 and specific IgE to Bet v I (pc = 0.02). Furthermore, it was shown that this association was linked to the overall IgE responsiveness and not to a limited area of IgE sensitivity. The present study confirms and further identifies the association of DRB3*0101/0301 earlier described in an Austrian population to be present also in a Danish study group. This underlines the importance of this particular allele in the allergic immune response to birch pollen and emphasizes the importance of investigating the molecular basis of human allergic immune responsiveness.