the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) genes are the most polymorphic loci in the human genome and have been widely studied in various populations and ethnic groups. investigations into the hla genes and proteins have been useful tool for anthropological, transplantation and disease association studies. the polymorphism of the hla class i (a, b, c) and class ii (drb1, dqa1, dqb1) genes were...

DNA from 164 Caucasian type I (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients and 200 Caucasian nondiabetic control blood donors were analyzed by the polymerase chain reaction technique for HLA-DR4 and the associated Dw and DQB subtypes of DR4. The DQw8 subtype of HLA-DR4 was associated with type I diabetes in all DR4 subgroups (DR4/3 and DR4/non-3). Dw subtypes of DR4 other than DW10 did not confer addi...

Class II genes of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are highly polymorphic. Allelic variation of structural genes provides diversity in immune cell interactions, contributing to the formation of the T cell repertoire and to susceptibility to certain autoimmune diseases. We now report that allelic polymorphism also exists in the promoter and upstream regulatory regions (URR) of hu...

Although many studies confirm long-term small isolated populations (e.g. island endemics) commonly sustain low neutral genetic variation as a result of genetic drift, it is less clear how selection on adaptive or detrimental genes interplay with random forces. We investigated sequence variation at two major histocompatibility complex (Mhc) class II loci on a porpoise endemic to the upper Gulf o...

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II molecule consists of noncovalently associated alpha and beta chains. In mammals studied so far, the class II MHC can be divided into a number of regions, each containing one or more alpha-chain genes (A genes) and beta-chain genes (B genes), and it has been known for some time that orthologous relationships exist between genes in corresponding...

As the demand for donors for bone marrow transplantation increases, the use of HLA-matched, genetically unrelated donors represents a promising strategy. It is well documented that the clinical outcome of bone marrow transplantation is directly dependent on optimal matching for HLA class I and class II specificities. Molecular studies have revealed the existence of a much larger number of HLA c...