The HLA-DQ(alpha 1*0102, beta 1*0602) heterodimer may confer susceptibility to multiple sclerosis in the absence of the HLA-DR(alpha 1*01, beta 1*1501) heterodimer.

The frequencies of DR2, DQ6-related DRB1, DQA1, DQB1 haplotypes were compared in 181 multiple sclerosis patients and 294 controls in Norway. All individuals carried either DR2 or DQ6, i.e., the DQ(alpha 1*0102, beta 1*0602) heterodimer. The DR(alpha 1*01, beta 1*1501) and the DQ(alpha 1*0102, beta 1*0602) heterodimers were carried by 171 of the patients (94%) and 289 (98%) of the controls. Seven of the patients and one of the controls carried the DQ(alpha 1*0102, beta 1*0603) heterodimer together with the DR(alpha 1*01, beta 1*1501) heterodimer. Two patients carried the DQ(alpha 1*0102, beta 1*0602) heterodimer in the absence of the DR( alpha 1*01, beta 1*1501) heterodimer. The DR(alpha 1*01, beta 1*1501) heterodimer was not observed in the absence of the DQ(alpha 1*0102, beta 1*0602) heterodimer or the DQ(alpha 1*0102, beta 1*0603) heterodimer, neither in the patients nor in the controls. Our findings indicate that the genes encoding the DQ(alpha 1*0102, beta 1*0602) heterodimer may confer susceptibility to developing multiple sclerosis in the absence of the DRB1*1501 allele.