HLA-DR, DQ antigens in North American Caucasians

Abstract

HLA-DR, DQ specificities are determined by serological methods in 2,586 North American Caucasians. Antigen frequency, gene frequency and haplotype frequency are computed for each phenotype observed. The DR and DQ loci antigen distributions are well-fitted to a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p greater than 0.25 for DR locus, p greater than 0.10 for DQ locus). All World Health Organization (WHO) recognized HLA-DR,DQ specificities were found except HLA-DRw18, which has been identified only in the black population. DR and DQ linkage disequilibria among recently defined splits is observed. The following DR and DQ associations are found: DR1 and DQw5; DR4 and DQw7, DQw8; DR7 and DQw2, DQw9; DR8 and DQw4, DQw6, DQw7; DR9 and DQw2, DQw9; DRw10 and DQw5; DRw11 and DQw6, DQw7; DRw12 and DQw5, DQw7; DRw13 and DQw6, DQw7; DRw14 and DQw5, DQW7; DRw15 and DQw6, DQw7; DRw16 and DQw5; DRw17 and DQw2. In this large study population, the following unusual DR and DQ associations are found: DR4, DQw2; DR4, DQw1; DR1, DQw7; DR7, DQw5; DRw17, DQw6; and other unusual haplotype phenotypes containing DRX, DQX.