Restriction fragment length polymorphisms and an HLA-DRw52-associated split.

The restriction fragment length polymorphism technique, employing seven restriction endonucleases, and a DR-specific repeated element probe were used to study a large panel of homozygous typing cells in order to delineate haplotypic differences within the HLA-DRw52 supertype. Most of the restriction endonucleases revealed the presence of two allelic restriction fragment length polymorphisms correlating with and splitting the HLA-DRw52 supertypic specificity. One designated A, correlated with the HLA-DRw52 typing in HLA-DR5, HLA-DR3, (non-A1, B8), and some HLA-DRw6 haplotypes. The other, designated a, correlated with the HLA-DRw52 typing in HLA-DR5, HLA-DRw8, HLA-DR3 (A1, B8), and the remaining HLA-DRw6 haplotypes. The general applicability of these findings was validated in 47 HLA-typed laboratory controls.