Studies of the HLA class II alleles involved in human responses to ragweed allergens Ambrosia artemisiifolia V (Ra5S) and Ambrosia trifida V (Ra5G)

Previous studies have associated skin test sensitivity and specific IgE response to Ambrosia artemisiifolia V (Amb a V) with HLA-DR2, and to Ambrosia trifida V (Amb t V) with HLA-DRw52 haplotypes in atopic individuals. Using HLA class II typing by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with DRB, DQB and DQA DNA probes to define the HLA-D alleles, we have demonstrated the association of the DQw6 in 16 out of 16 (100%) Amb a V-responsive individuals, compared to 3 out of 18 (17%) ragweed-sensitive but Amb a V-nonresponsive individuals (p = 5.7 x 10(-6), RR greater than 75). We suggest that the DQw6 association with Amb a V sensitivity may be a reflection of an association with the DQA*0102 allele. This suggests an association of a particular HLA class II allele with an immune response to a well-characterized antigen (Amb a V). The HLA-DRw52 haplotypes in the Amb t V-sensitive individuals are not of one particular subtype. The HLA-DRw52 association with Amb t V sensitivity may reside in homologous DRB1 alleles linked on HLA-DRw52-bearing haplotypes.