The HLA-DRB6 locus defines an evolutionary supratypic group within the DRB family of genes

Abstract

A novel DRB gene member has recently been identified (DRB6). It defines a new supratypic group of HLA-DR alleles comprising the DR1-, DR2-, and DRw10-carrying haplotypes. The comparison of this gene either at the nucleotide or at the protein level with other HLA-DRB genes supports its inclusion in the DRB gene family and not in DPB or DQB gene families. Moreover, the construction of an evolutionary gene-tree shows that this gene is probably the eldest member of the DRB gene family. Contradictory expression results do not clarify whether or not DRB6 is a pseudogene.