Characterization of three HLA-DR beta genes isolated from an HLA-DR 3/4 insulin-dependent diabetic patient.

Three HLA-DR beta genes were isolated from a Swedish HLA-DR3/4 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patient and characterized by restriction endonuclease mapping and nucleotide sequence analysis. Two out of the three DNA sequences differed from those of published DR beta-chain sequences. A DR beta-gene probe prepared from exon 4 and flanking sequences was used in a Southern blot analysis of blood donors' DNA and DNA from HLA-DR3/4 IDDM patients and HLA-DR-matched healthy control subjects. This probe differentiated HLA-DR3/4 IDDM patients and HLA-DR-matched controls in the Scandinavian population but not in the North American Caucasoid population.