DQw4 (Wa): 2-D Gel Patterns

DQw4 (Wa) is a class II specificity defined in the 10th Workshop as a fourth allele at the DQ locus. It is revealed serologically with the mouse monoclonal antibody Hu-46, which reacts with some DR4 and DRw8 haplotypes (1) previously designated as DQ “blank” (2). The DQw4 antigen shows linkage disequilibrium with DR4,Dw15 in Japanese with a gene frequency of 20% and with DRw8/Dw8 in Caucasians (1). Cytotoxic T-cell clones can also be generated that recognize DQw4 (“Wa”) accordance with the Hu-46 reactivity pattern (2).