title: HLA-D clusters associated with DR2 and the definition of HLA-D"AZH": a new DR2 related HLA-D specificity in Israel.
abstract: In order to investigate the HLA-D clusters associated with DR2 in Israeli Jews, 40 DR2 positive unrelated individuals were studied with a panel of DR2 associated homozygous typing cells (HTC's) which detect the lymphocyte defined specificities HLA-Dw2, Dw12, Dw9 and D-WJR. The results confirmed the existence of two distinct HLA-D clusters associated with the same serologically defined DR2. Of 40 individuals 22.5% (9/40) were Dw2 and 50% (20/40) were Dw12 carriers. Yet, no HLA-D specificity could be assigned to the remaining 11 DR2 positive individuals. In the present study we have defined a unique DR2-associated Dw specificity, HLA-D"AZH". The donor of the HTC was of Moroccan origin and an offspring of a first cousin marriage. This cell was not typeable with the known DR2-associated homozygous typing cells nor with other HTC's which define the well established HLA-Dw1 to Dw11 specificities. It was shown to segregate with DR2 positive HLA haplotypes in family analysis and in a population study, typed out 7 of 11 unrelated DR2 positive, Dw blank individuals, thus identifying a unique and new HLA-D cluster provisionally designated D"AZH".
mesh_terms: D000939:Epitopes; D008040:Genetic Linkage; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000208:ethnology; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D010375:Pedigree
chemical_list: D000939:Epitopes; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D015802:HLA-DR2 Antigen; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II