HLA-B*4012: a new allele with unique serological features

We have defined the new allele HLA-B*4012, which had been isolated from a b lack individual. It was initially recognized as a serologically unique alle le when typing her father for renal transplantation. The HLA class I phenot ype was A*0201,*6602; B*4001,*4012; Bw6; Cw*0304,*1505. Sequencing from exo n 1 through intron 3 of B*4012 was performed. B*4012 is identical to B*4001 and B*4010 in exon 3, and in the 3' part of exon 2, but it is unique in th at exon 1 and the 5' part of exon 2 are identical to B*1503, B*1509, B*1510 , B*1518, B*1523, and B*1529. The generation of this allele is best explain ed by a recombination event in exon 2 (break point between nucleotides 205 and 222 from the beginning of the coding region) of B*4001 or B*4010 with o ne of these B*15 variants as a donor allele. Its unique serological feature (B48, B60, B70, and B72 reactivity) is consistent with the sequence data o f its donor alleles.