病理性近视与HLA的关联性研究

用ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ方法对江浙沪籍汉族５５例病理性近视眼（ＰＭ）患者的ＨＬＡⅡ类ＤＱＢ１基因的第二个外显子进行了基因分型。结果发现ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＢ１＊０２０１、＊０３０３、＊０４０１等位基因在ＰＭ患者中和正常人中的分布有显著的差异（Ｐｃ＜０．０５,ＡＦ分别为０．１６３６,０．１０９１,０．１６３６,０．１０９１ｖｓ．０．０４００,０．０３００,０．０４００,０．０２００）,可能与ＰＭ的致病相关。ＤＱＢ     

用PCR—RFLP方法研究藏族HLA0—DQA1和—DQB1基因多态性

应用目前ＨＬＡ研究领域中成熟的、有效的ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ基因分型技术,从ＤＮＡ水平对藏族健康群体进行了ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ１（４９人）和－ＤＱＢ１（４９人）基因分型,这在国内外属首次。所采用的ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ基因分型技术是在ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ１和－ＤＱＢ１各等位基因全部序列已知的情况下,对其第２个外显子碱基序列扩增进而进行ＲＦＬＰ分析的方法。这种方法得到的ＲＦＬＰ的所有片段都是已知序列,因而精确度很高,同时为     

用ＰＣＲ—ＳＳＯ方法研究云南西部彝族ＨＬＡ—ＤＱＢ１基因的多态性

应用ＰＣＲ－ＳＳＯ基因分型技术,对我国云南西部地区３代内无血缘关系的７６个彝族健康个体进行了ＬＡ－ＤＱＢ１位点的基因分型。结果显示,在ＤＱＢ１的３８个等位基因中,观察到１３个等位基因,云南西彝族表现为ＤＱＢ１＊０３０１（３６．１８％－３６．８４％）最常见。其他频率大于５％的等位基因还有ＤＱＢ１＊０５０２（１０．５３％－１１．１８％）、ＤＱＢ１＊０４０１（９．２１％）、ＤＱＢ１＊０３０２（８．５５％－９．２１％）、ＤＱＢ１*0601(7．８９％）ＤＱＢ１＊０５０３１（６．５８％）、ＤＱＢ１＊０３０３２（５．９２％－６．５８％）。和其他１３个华人群体ＤＱＢ１等位基因的频率比较分析表明,总体上,云南西彝族和其他各华人群体间都存在很大的差异。显示其ＨＬＡ等位基因频率分布的民族独特性。     

MHC DQA基因的分子进化研究：Ⅰ.等位基因多态性保持机制及GC含量对…

对７种哺乳动物ＭＨＣ ＤＱＡ座位的２３个等位基因不同外显子,抗原识别位点和ＥＮ２的非ＡＲＳ的核苷酸同义替换率和异义替换率进行了分析,发现在ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ１的７个等位基因之间和Ｉａ Ａａ８个等位基因之间,即同一物种ＤＱＡ１座位内,ＡＲＳ的ＰＮ均显著高于Ｐｓ２倍以上,表现超显性选择;而不同物种ＤＱＡ基因（ＤＱＡ１或ＤＱＡ２）或同一物种的ＤＱＡ基因（ＤＱＡ１和ＤＱＡ２）的ＡＲＳ之间和各比较组的ＮＡＥＮ２     

新疆维吾尔族,哈萨克族人群HLA—DQA1,—DQB1两基因座多态性的研究？…

应用ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ基因分型技术,首次对我国新疆地区维吾尔族和哈萨克族２个少数民族群体的ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ１,－ＤＱＢ１两个基因座的多态性进行了研究,结果显示,在ＤＱＡ１８个等位基因中,维族和哈族表现为ＤＱＡ１＊０３０１最常见,最少见的ＤＱＡ１等位基因,在维族中的ＤＱＡ１＊０４０１和０６０１,而在哈族中ＤＱＡ１＊０６０１;在ＤＱＢ１１６个等位基因中,ＤＱＢ１＊０２０１和＊０３０１在维族和哈族中均表现为     

新疆维吾尔族、哈萨克族人群HLA-DQA1、-DQB1两基因座多态性的研究及与25个种族或民族的比较分析

应用ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ基因分型技术,首次对我国新疆地区维吾尔族和哈萨克族２个少数民族群体的ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ１、－ＤＱＢ１两个基因座的多态性进行了研究。结果显示,在ＤＱＡ１８个等位基因中,维族和哈族均表现为ＤＱＡ１＊０３０１最常见。最少见的ＤＱＡ１等位基因,在维族中为ＤＱＡ１＊０４０１和＊０６０１,而在哈族中为ＤＱＡ１＊０６０１;在ＤＱＢ１１６个等位基因中,ＤＱＢ１＊０２０１和＊０３０１在维族和哈族中均表现为最常见。在维族中未观察到ＤＱＢ１＊０５０２、＊０５０３２和＊０５０４,在哈族中未观察到ＤＱＢ１＊０５０３２、＊０５０４和＊０６０５等位基因。统计分析表明,维族和哈族ＤＱＡ１、ＤＱＢ１各等位基因的分布无显著性差异,说明维、哈族间具有较密切的亲缘关系。在以２７个种族或民族的ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ１、－ＤＱＢ１两基因座基因频率构建的分子系统树上,维族和哈族独立于其他群体而聚类,独处一支。维族和哈族接近蒙古人种,而离高加索人种较远。     

中国西北地区汉,回,维,藏民族HLA—DRB基因多态性的研究

按照第１１届国际相容性抗原研讨会工作会议ＨＬＡⅡ类ＰＣＲ－ＳＳＯ分型标准和美国国立骨髓供者计划组织对ＨＬＡ ＤＲＢ位点等位基因分型要求,设计合成１对引物,扩增ＨＬＡ ＤＲＢ ＤＮＡ片段,长度为２５６ｂｐ,设计合成不同片段大小探针２７种,可检出ＤＲＢ座位上ＤＲＢ１的３９种等位基因,ＤＲＢ３的３种等位基因,ＤＲＢ４的１种等位基因和ＤＲＢ５的３４种等位基因。     

应用SSP-PCR/SSO方法进行中国辽宁汉族人HLA-DRB1基因的遗传多态性研究

对１５９名中国辽宁汉族个体的基因组ＤＮＡ进行分析,共检出４２种等位基因,其中以ＤＲＢ１０９０１２（１２．８％）、０７０１（１０．７％）、１５０１（１０．４％）最为常见,其次为ＤＲＢ１１２０１（７９％）、１２０２（７５％）、１１０１（６６％）、０３０１（５．０％）。并发现辽宁汉族人ＤＲＢ１等位基因频率与白种人间存在明显差异,揭示不同人种有其自己的主要等位基因。同时对本技术在ＨＬＡ－ＤＲＢ１分型应用中的优点进行了讨论     

非放射性反相杂交法在HLA－DQA1位点基因分型中的应用

将遴选的经适当接尾的１２个ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ１序列特异性寡核苷酸固定在一张滤膜上,用生物素标记的ＤＱＡ１特异性扩增产物与滤膜上的序列特异性寡核苷酸在四甲基氯化铵杂交体系中杂交,然后经洗膜封膜,杂交信号用非放射性的碱性磷酸酶显色法检测,根据杂交斑点的显示结果分析标本的基因型。采用这种方法初步确定了ＨＬＡ－ＤＱＡ１位点８种单倍型等位基因：ＤＱＡ１０１０１、０１０２、０１０３、０２０１、０３０１１、０４０１、０５０１和０６０１．非放射性反相杂交法可对各种来源的杂合性标本进行ＨＬＡ－Ⅱ类基因快速分型,并适合在临床器官移植的组织分型配型、疾病易感性研究和法医鉴定等领城中应用。     

r－干扰素对喉癌细胞系HEP－2HLA－DR抗原和增殖细胞核抗原表达的影响

本实验用人重组ｒ－干扰素（ｒｈｕ－ＩＦＮ）作用ＨＥＰ－２细胞后ＨＬＡ－ＤＲ抗原和增殖细胞核抗原（ＰＣＮＡ）表达的检测来探讨ｒ－干扰素对ＨＥＰ－２细胞ＨＬＡ－ＤＲ抗原表达诱导作用及体外抗增殖活性。用单克隆抗体ＣＲ３／４３（抗ＨＬＡ－ＤＲ）和Ｋｉ－６７（抗ＰＣＮＡ）。以链霉素一生物素技术（ＬＳＡＢ）检测ＨＥＰ－２细胞ＨＬＡ－ＤＲ抗原和ＰＣＮＡ表达,结果显示：ｒ－ＩＥＮ诱导ＨＬＡ－ＤＲ抗原和抑制ＰＣＮＡ表达其强弱与ｒ－ＩＦＮ剂量有关。资料提示：ｒ－ＩＦＮ不仅对ＨＥＰ－２细胞有细胞毒作用,同时能调节其细胞膜特性,因而在喉癌的治疗中是有效的。     

用PCR-RFLP方法研究藏族HLA-DQA1和-DQB1基因多态性

应用目前HLA研究领域中成熟的,有效的PCR-RFLP基因分型技术,从DNA水平对藏族健康群体进行了HLA-DQA1(49人)和-DQB1(49人)基因分型,这在国内外属首次。所采用的PCR-RFLP基因分型技术是在HLA-DQA1和-DQB1各等位基因全部序列已知的情况下,对其第2个外显子碱基序列扩增进而进行RFLP分析的方法。这种方法得到的RFLP的所有片段都是已知序列,因而精确度很高,同时为发现新的等位基因提供了成熟而有效的分析方法。研究结果表明,在藏族DQA1的8个等位基因,DQA1*0301的基因频率最高(36.74％)。DQA1*0601(4.08％)、*0103(4.08％)和*0401(5.10％)最低。在DQB1的16个等位基因中,OQB1*0302(16.33％)、*0303(15.31％)和*0602(15.31％)为最常见,没有观察到*0504。统计分析表明,在DQA1各等位基因分布上,藏族与新疆汉族、北方汉族、上海汉族十分相近;与维吾尔族和哈萨克族也没有明显差异。在OQB1各等位基因的分布上,藏族与汉族、维族、哈族之间略有差异,而汉族、维族、哈族之间也存在一些差异。     

HLA class II associations with rheumatic heart disease among clinically homogeneous patients in children in Latvia

Genetic control of immune reactions has a major role in the development of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and differs between patients with rheumatic fever (RF). Some authors think the risk of acquiring RHD is associated with the HLA class II DR and DQ loci, but other views exist, due to the various HLA-typing methods and ways of grouping cases. Our goal was to determine the relations between HLA class II alleles and risk of or protection from RF in patients with relatively homogeneous clinical manifestations. A total of 70 RF patients under the age of 18 years were surveyed in Latvia. HLA genotyping of DRB1*01 to DRB1*18 and DQB1*0201-202, *0301-305, *0401-402, *0501-504, and *0601-608 was performed using polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific primers. Data for a control group of 100 healthy individuals typed for HLA by the same method were available from the databank of the Immunology Institute of Latvia. Of the RF patients, 47 had RHD and 8 had Sydenham's chorea. We concluded that HLA class II DRB1*07-DQB1*0401-2 and DRB1*07-DQB1*0302 could be the risk alleles and HLA class II DRB1*06 and DQB1*0602-8, the protective ones. Patients with mitral valve regurgitation more often had DRB1*07 and DQB1*0401-2, and patients with multivalvular lesions more often had DRB1*07 and DQB1*0302. In Sydenham's chorea patients, the DQB1*0401-2 allele was more frequent. Genotyping control showed a high risk of RF and RHD in patients with DRB1*01-DQB1*0301-DRB1*07-DQB1*0302 and DRB1*15-DQB1*0302-DRB1*07-DQB1*0303.     

Association between diabetes type 1 and DQB1 alleles in a case-control study conducted in Montevideo,Uruguay

We studied HLA DQB1 allele frequencies and the relative risk (RR) of various genotypes in 72 type 1 diabetic patients and 40 control individuals in Uruguay. This is a tri-racial (Caucasian, Black and Indo-American) mixed population. The products of the polymerase chain reaction amplifications were hybridized with oligonucleotides by allele-specific oligonucleotide reverse or dot blot methods. Significant differences between these two groups were observed only for allele DQB1*0302 (35%, RR = 7.34, P<0.001). The frequency of the alleles carrying a non-aspartic acid residue at position 57 was significantly higher in the diabetic patients (85 vs 53%, P<0.001). In contrast, the frequency of Asp alleles was negatively associated with type 1 diabetes (RR = 0.20, P<0.001). The genotype DQB1*0302/DQB1*0201 (33%, RR = 5.41, P<0.05) was positively associated with this disease. The genotype frequencies associated with type 1 diabetes in our population were significantly different from what is known for Caucasian and Black populations as well as compared with another admixed population, from Chile.     

The role of HLA class II genes in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: molecular analysis of 180 Caucasian,multiplex families.

We report here our analysis of HLA class II alleles in 180 Caucasian nuclear families with at least two children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, and DPB1 genotypes were determined with PCR/sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe typing methods. The data allowed unambiguous determination of four-locus haplotypes in all but three of the families. Consistent with other studies, our data indicate an increase in DR3/DR4, DR3/DR3, and DR4/DR4 genotypes in patients compared to controls. In addition, we found an increase in DR1/DR4, DR1/DR3, and DR4/DR8 genotypes. While the frequency of DQB1*0302 on DR4 haplotypes is dramatically increased in DR3/DR4 patients, DR4 haplotypes in DR1/DR4 patients exhibit frequencies of DQB1*0302 and DQB1*0301 more closely resembling those in control populations. The protective effect of DR2 is evident in this data set and is limited to the common DRB1*1501-DQB1*0602 haplotype. Most DR2+ patients carry the less common DR2 haplotype DRB1*1601-DQB1*0502, which is not decreased in patients relative to controls. DPB1 also appears to play a role in disease susceptibility. DPB1*0301 is increased in patients (P < .001) and may contribute to the disease risk of a number of different DR-DQ haplotypes. DPB1*0101, found almost exclusively on DR3 haplotypes in patients, is slightly increased, and maternal transmissions of DRB1*0301-DPB1*0101 haplotypes to affected children occur twice as frequently as do paternal transmissions. Transmissions of DR3 haplotypes carrying other DPB1 alleles occur at approximately equal maternal and paternal frequencies. The complex, multigenic nature of HLA class II-associated IDDM susceptibility is evident from these data.     

HLA class II DR-DQ amino acids and insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: application of the haplotype method.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) HLA class II DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 data from four populations (Norwegian, Sardinian, Mexican American, and Taiwanese) have been analyzed to detect the amino acids involved in the disease process. The combination of sites DRB1#67 and 86; DQA1#47; and DQB1#9, 26, 57, and 70 predicts the IDDM component in these four populations, when the results and criteria of the haplotype method for amino acids, developed in the companion paper in this issue of the Journal, are used. The following sites, either individually, or in various combinations, previously have been suggested as IDDM components: DRB1#57, 70, 71, and 86; DQA1#52; and DQB1#13, 45, and 57 (DQB1#13 and 45 correlates 100% with DQB1#9 and 26). We propose that DQA1#47 is a better predictor of IDDM than is the previously suggested DQA1#52, and we add DRB1#67 and DQB1#70 to the HLA DR-DQ IDDM amino acids. We do not claim to have identified all HLA DR-DQ amino acids-or highly correlated sites-involved in IDDM. The frequencies and predisposing/protective effects of the haplotypes defined by these seven sites have been compared, and the effects on IDDM are consistent across the populations. The strongest susceptible effects came from haplotypes DRB1 *0301/DQA1 *0501/ DQB1*0201 and DRB1*0401-5-7-8/DQA1*0301/ DQB1*0302. The number of strong protective haplotypes observed was larger than the number of susceptible ones; some of the predisposing haplotypes were present in only one or two populations. Although the sites under consideration do not necessarily have a functional involvement in IDDM, they should be highly associated with such sites and should prove to be useful in risk assessment.     

High resolution molecular typing of HLA class II region in the population of the island of Krk, Croatia

The HLA class II alleles (DRB1, DRB3, DRB5, DQA1, and DQB1) and haplotypic associations were studied in the population of the island of Krk using the PCR-SSOP method and the 12th International Histocompatibility Workshop primers and probes. Allele and haplotypic frequencies were compared with the general Croatian population. Significant differences were observed between the population of the island of Krk and Croatians for: a) three broad specificities at DRB1 locus (DRB1*01, *15, and *07), b) one allele at DRB3 locus (DRB3*0301), c) one allele at DQA1 locus (DQA1*0201), d) one allele at DQB1 locus (DQB1*0303). Four unusual haplotypic associations, which have not yet been described in the Croatian population, DRB1*1301-DQA1*0103-DQB1*0607, DRB1*1302-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0605, DRB1*1305-DQA1*0102-DQB1*0605 and DRB1*1305-DQA1*0103-DQB1*0603 were observed in the population from the island of Krk.     

Susceptibility alleles and haplotypes of human leukocyte antigen DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 in autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type III in Japanese population

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that HLA class II haplotypes DRB1*0405-DQA1*0303-DQB1*0401 and DRB1*0901-DQA1*0302-DQB1*0303 are major susceptibility haplotypes for type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) in Japanese population. However, little has been reported on the susceptibility HLA class II haplotypes in Japanese patients with autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type II and type III (APS III). PATIENTS AND METHODS: HLA class II haplotypes of DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 in 31 patients with APS III, 14 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis alone, and 15 patients with Graves' disease alone were examined in Japanese population. APS III patients were divided into three groups (A, B, and C) depending on the combination of autoimmune endocrine diseases. RESULTS: In 13 APS III patients with both Hashimoto's thyroiditis and type 1 DM (group A), the haplotype frequencies of the HLA DRB1*0802-DQA1*0401-DQB1*0402 and DRB1*0901-DQA1*0302-DQB1*0303 were significantly higher than in the controls. In patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis alone, the haplotype frequency of DRB1*0901-DQA1*0302-DQB1*0303 was significantly higher than in controls, whereas the frequency of DRB1*0802-DQA1*0401-DQB1*0402 did not differ significantly from those in the controls. In 11 APS III patients with both Graves' disease and type 1 DM (group B), the haplotype frequencies of HLA DRB1*0405-DQA1*0303-DQB1*0401 and DRB1*0802-DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 were significantly higher than in controls. In patients with Graves' disease alone, the haplotype frequency of DRB1*0803-DQA1*0103-DQB1*0601 were significantly higher than those in controls, suggesting that the susceptibility haplotypes for group B APS III differed from those for Graves' disease alone. In 7 APS III patients with both autoimmune thyroid diseases and pituitary disorders (group C), the haplotype frequency of HLA DRB1*0405-DQA1*0303-DQB1*0401 was significantly higher than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Susceptible HLA class II haplotypes of DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 for APS III differ between the Japanese and Caucasian populations. More interestingly, the susceptible HLA class II haplotypes differ among the three types of Japanese APS III and are not merely a combination of susceptibility haplotypes of each endocrine disease.     

In adult onset myositis, the presence of interstitial lung disease and myositis specific/associated antibodies are governed by HLA class II haplotype, rather than by myositis subtype

The aim of this study was to investigate HLA class II associations in polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM), and to determine how these associations influence clinical and serological differences. DNA samples were obtained from 225 UK Caucasian idiopathic inflammatory myopathy patients (PM = 117, DM = 108) and compared with 537 randomly selected UK Caucasian controls. All cases had also been assessed for the presence of related malignancy and interstitial lung disease (ILD), and a number of myositis-specific/myositis-associated antibodies (MSAs/MAAs). Subjects were genotyped for HLA-DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1. HLA-DRB1*03, DQA1*05 and DQB1*02 were associated with an increased risk for both PM and DM. The HLA-DRB1*03-DQA1*05-DQB1*02 haplotype demonstrated strong association with ILD, irrespective of myositis subtype or presence of anti-aminoacyl-transfer RNA synthetase antibodies. The HLA-DRB1*07-DQA1*02-DQB1*02 haplotype was associated with risk for anti-Mi-2 antibodies, and discriminated PM from DM (odds ratio 0.3, 95% confidence interval 0.1-0.6), even in anti-Mi-2 negative patients. Other MSA/MAAs showed specific associations with other HLA class II haplotypes, irrespective of myositis subtype. There were no genotype, haplotype or serological associations with malignancy. The HLA-DRB1*03-DQA1*05-DQB1*02 haplotype associations appear to not only govern disease susceptibility in Caucasian PM/DM patients, but also phenotypic features common to PM/DM. Though strongly associated with anti-Mi-2 antibodies, the HLA-DRB1*07-DQA1*02-DQB1*02 haplotype shows differential associations with PM/DM disease susceptibility. In conclusion, these findings support the notion that myositis patients with differing myositis serology have different immunogenetic profiles, and that these profiles may define specific myositis subtypes.     

Genetic and immunologic aspects of type 1 diabetes mellitus

Prediction of type 1 diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and its identification in preclinical period is one of the central problems in modern medicine. They are based comprehensive genetic, immunologic and metabolic evaluations. We observed four hundred seven first-degree relatives of patients with IDDM (240 families in which one of the children or one of the parents had IDDM) have been included in the study. The study of HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1 polymorphic alleles and DRB1 genes and their combinations. The genetic study included searching HLA loci (HLA-DQA1, HLA-DQB1 polymorphic alleles and DRB1 genes) loci. To evaluate the genetic risk two approaches we used: first--carrying predisposing HLA-DQ alleles and DRB1-genes and it's combination (mainly associated in Russian population was DRB1*04-DQB1*0302, DRB1*04-DQA1*0301, DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302, DQA1*0301-DQB1*0302 and four susceptible alleles in A- and B- chains (Asp 57-, Arg 52+)) and second--IBD (identity by descent), in Russian population HLA-identical for 2 haplotypes sibs had risk of development of IDDM of 18%, for 1 haplotype--3%, for 0 haplotype-0.9%. The antibodies (ICA, IAA) prevalence rate has not depended on availability of predisposing HLA-DQ alleles and DRB1-genes and haploidentity of normal sibs and sibs with IDDM. However, GADA prevalence rate in groups having high predisposed alleles has been noticed as significantly higher (28.6%) comparing with 7.7% in groups that had no predisposing alleles (p < 0.05). The comparison of antibodies prevalence rate to sibs HLA-identity has shown the significant increase or GADA prevalence rate in group of siblings identical for one haplotype comparing with non-identical sibs (27.3% and 0% respectively, p < 0.001).     

Specific amino acid residues in the second hypervariable region of HLA-DQA1 and DQB1 chain genes promote the Ro (SS-A)/La (SS-B) autoantibody responses

In order to define the HLA-DR and DQ alleles, as well as the specific DQA1 and DQB1 chain genes involved in the anti-Ro/La autoantibody responses, RFLP analysis and sequence-specific oligonucleotide typing was carried out on 58 Caucasians and 48 American blacks with SLE or Sj?gren's syndrome and anti-Ro antibodies. Among both Caucasian and black patients, the highest relative risk for the anti-Ro response (both with and without accompanying anti-La) was conferred by heterozygosity for the DQw2.1 (in linkage disequilibrium with HLA-DR3) and DQw6 (a subtype of DQw1) alleles compared with either 269 normal race-matched controls or 80 anti-Ro negative SLE/Sj?gren's syndrome patients. Analysis of individual DQA1 and DQB1 chain alleles revealed that DQA1*0501 and DQB1*0201 were most frequent, followed by DQA1 and DQB1 alleles comprising DQw6. In patients not possessing DQw2.1 and/or DQw6 alleles, HLA-DQB1*0302 and HLA-DQA1*0401 (especially in blacks) were significantly increased. Nucleotide sequence analysis of these associated alleles showed that 100% of patients with anti-Ro had a glutamine residue at position 34 of the outermost domain of the DQA1 chain and/or a leucine at position 26 of the outermost domain of the DQB1 chain. Patients with anti-Ro plus La were more likely to have all four of their DQA1/DQB1 chains containing these amino acid residues than either anti-Ro-negative SLE patients or controls. These data implicate specific amino acid residues on both DQA1 and DQB1 chains located in the floor of the Ag binding cleft of the HLA-DQA1:B1 heterodimer and further suggest a role for "gene dosage" in the anti-Ro (+/- La) autoantibody response.