HLA-DRB1*0401 is associated with susceptibility to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus independently of the DQB1 locus.

Abstract

The distribution of DRB1*04 alleles and DRB1/DQB1 haplotypes was analysed in 57 DR4+ caucasoid subjects with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) and 96 DR4+ healthy controls selected on the basis of DR serology, and the findings were analysed in relation to age at diagnosis of IDDM. DNA samples were amplified using specific DR and DQ primers and hybridized with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes. A significantly increased combined frequency of DRB1*0401 and 0402 was observed in IDDM subjects aged < or = 12 years at diagnosis (allele frequency 88.4% compared with 62.0% in controls, P < 0.025). There was a non-significant increase in DRB1*0401 and 0402 in IDDM subjects 12 years (..