Human leukocyte antigen studies in multiple sclerosis.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been associated with HLA-DR2 for more than 20 years, and a large number of studies have addressed the relation between MS and the HLA class II genes, which are our major immune-response genes. This has produced a complex and confusing picture that is difficult to interpret. With the advent of reliable and comprehensive DNA-based typing techniques, it is now possible to extract a coherent pattern from this mass of data. The associated haplotype has been specified to HLA-Dw2 in cellular typing nomenclature, which equals DR15,DQ6 by serology, and DRB1*1501,DQA1*0102,DQB1*0602 in sequence-based terminology. This haplotype is increased among groups of MS patients worldwide, although most strongly in North and West Europeans, and it is the only haplotype with a clear importance in MS. Attempts to map this association within the haplotype have not been successful.
Department of Neurology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge Hospital, Sweden.
J
J
Hillert
D000483:Alleles; D005060:Europe; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000235:genetics
D006680:HLA Antigens; D006681:HLA-D Antigens