Segregation of HLA-DR2 among affected and non-affected offspring of 66 families with type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes.

Segregation of HLA-DR2 among affected and unaffected offspring was studied in 66 HLA-genotypes families with Type 1 diabetes in whom at least one parent carried DR2. The frequency of DR2-positive parents (21%) was not different from that of control families (29%). Among the diabetic probands, the gene frequency of DR2 was significantly decreased compared with control subjects (0.05 versus 0.17, p less than 0.001) as were DR5 (0.07 versus 0.17, p less than 0.01) and DR7 (0.06 versus 0.13, p less than 0.003). Twenty probands carried DR2, in 11 or whom (55%) it was found in combination with either DR3 or DR4. The nine cases who carried another DR allele included one who was DR2 homozygous. Transmission of DR2 was reduced in affected offspring, and random in unaffected siblings, compared with the expected ratio. However, when the DR2 transmission was analysed separately for parents bearing DR2 with DR3, DR4 or another DR allele, it appeared that DR2 transmission to affected offspring was random when the parents carried neither DR3 or DR4, the transmission deficit being due to over-transmission of DR3 and DR4. The haplotype analysis showed that the haplotype A3, Cw7, B7, GfS, DR2, found in 19% of "non-diabetic" DR2 haplotypes was practically absent among "diabetic" DR2-haplotypes (4%). In conclusion, population and segregation analysis could not demonstrate a specific protective effect of DR2.