Extended major histocompatibility complex haplotypes in patients with multiple sclerosis.
We derived complete haplotypes of the major histocompatibility complex for 33 patients with MS and their families. The DR2 allele and DR2-bearing extended haplotypes, in proportion, were overrepresented on chromosomes of MS patients compared with parental chromosomes not transmitted to MS offspring. We did not confirm previous reports that particular alleles at the BF locus are overrepresented in MS or that C2 hypocomplementemia is present. These results suggest that the DR2 allele is a risk factor for MS, and not merely a genetic marker of the population of origin.
Neuroimmunology Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston 02114.
S L
SL
Hauser
E
E
Fleischnick
H L
HL
Weiner
D
D
Marcus
Z
Z
Awdeh
E J
EJ
Yunis
C A
CA
Alper
D000483:Alleles; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*
D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen