The nucleotide sequence of two new DP alleles, DPA1*02015 and DPB1*8401, identified in a Chinese subject

The HLA-DP genes (HLA-DPA1 and -DPB1) are encoded by the major histocompati bility complex (MHC) on human chromosome 6. They are involved in the presen tation of antigen to CD4+ T cells as part of the class II antigen-presentat ion pathway. During a small study ai Oriental subjects (11 Chinese and 26 J apanese subjects), one Chinese subject was identified as having numerous he terozygous sites within the second exon of both DPA1 and DPB1. These were f urther analysed using novel codon-specific primers. Sequencing analysis usi ng these primers determined the subject to have DPA1*0103/*02015 and DPB1*0 501/*8401; these new alleles have been submitted to GenBank and assigned th e accession numbers AF098794 and AF077015, respectively.