title: New strategies for efficient typing of HLA class-II loci DQB1 and DRB1 by using Pyrosequencing.
abstract: The characterization of genetic risk factors for complex diseases located on chromosome-6 frequently requires human leucocyte antigen (HLA) genotyping of large patient cohorts. Currently available methods do not support high-throughput HLA typing beyond the major allele group level. We, thus, developed a high-throughput approach for the HLA-DQB1 and HLA-DRB1 loci that is based on Pyrosequencing. Pyrosequencing offers a higher degree of automation than direct sequencing or oligotyping. Using a dispensation order optimized for the particular HLA locus, rapid group typing and fine resolution can be achieved. We implemented the method for two important HLA loci--DQB1 and DRB1. The HLA-DQB1 typing method comprises the following steps: splitting the potential alleles after a generic polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification into groups with a first Pyrosequencing reaction and resolving the split allele groups by means of five further Pyrosequencing reactions. The HLA-DR gene family is known to be the most polymorphic one in the HLA class-II region because of a large number of DRB1 alleles. Because of this complex nature, HLA-DRB1 typing was performed by means of a combination of sequence-specific PCR typing and Pyrosequencing. HLA-DQB1 typing and HLA-DRB1 typing were performed successfully by using standard DNA samples with the help of known HLA genotypes and in a blind study by using the samples from the Deutscher Zell Austausch 2002 and 2003. The approach was optimized and was practically tested for genotyping in disease association studies. Our well-elaborated Pyrosequencing-based protocols offer a new alternative to the existing HLA class-II typing methods and represent a convenient and economic solution, a unique combination of high accuracy with high-sample throughput.
authors.affiliation: Gene Mapping Center and Department of Molecular Genetics, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin-Buch, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Entz
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Toliat
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hampe
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valentonyte
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jenisch
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nürnberg
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagy
mesh_terms: D017931:DNA Primers; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D059866:HLA-DQ beta-Chains; C069051:HLA-DQB1 antigen; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains