SINGLE-STEP ALLELE-SPECIFIC POLYMERASE CHAIN-REACTION HLA-DQ GENOTYPING USING ARMS PRIMERS

A set of allele-specific oligonucleotide primer pairs has been develop ed that allows the determination of HLA-DQ genotypes in a rapid, singl e-step PCR. The primer set unambiguously distinguishes the 18 most com mon DQ haplotypes in heterozygous as well as homozygous individuals. B ecause of linkage disequilibrium between the DQ and DR gene loci, accu rate determination of the DQ haplotypes enables the prediction of the DR serotype. HLA-DQ genotyping can be performed using DNA from any tis sue, such as skin and hair roots, as well as from blood cells. It is t herefore anticipated that HLA-DQ genotyping by PCR will have applicati ons in forensic science, in the identification of individuals, in rese arch studies of the role of DQ and DR haplotypes in the pathogenesis o f autoimmune diseases, and in the rapid matching of organ donor and tr ansplant recipient pairs.