HLA class II DNA typing in Buerger's Disease

Abstract To analyze the genetic factors involved in the pathogenesis of Buerger's disease.the polymorphisms of HLA class II genes ( HLA-DP, -DQ and - DRB ) were investigated in 36 patients using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. HLA class I ( B54 and B52 ) and HLA class II ( DQ alleles) genes were also typed by polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR SSOP) method to confirm alleles. PCR-RFLP typing revealed that the frequencies of HLA class II genes, DRB1 * 0405, DQB1 * 0401, DQA1 * 03 and DPB1 * 0501 , were significantly increased in the patients with Buerger's disease compared with the healthy controls. Further, DNA typing confirmed that HLA-B54 was associated with Buerger's disease. These results suggested that the haplotype of HLA-B54-DRB1 * 0405-DQB1 * 0401- DQA1 * 03-DPB1 * 0501 was associated with Buerger's disease in Japanese population.