Linkage between HLA-DRB1 and -DRB3 types in the Japanese population analyzed by oligonucleotide genotyping.

We analyzed linkage between HLA-DRB1 and -DRB3 types in 219 Japanese donors by oligonucleotide genotyping. In the Japanese population, DRB11201 was linked with DRB30101 in all donors analyzed; in contrast, most Caucasian DRB11201 is known to be linked with DRB302(01/02) (0201 or 0202). However, most DRB11202 was linked with DRB30301. Thus, the two DRw12-related DRB1 types are linked with DRB3 types distinct from each other. All the three DRw14-related DRB1 types, DRB11401, DRB11402, and DRB11405, were linked with DRB302(01/02) in the Japanese population, contrasting with the known linkage between DRB11402 and DRB30101 in other ethnic populations. The serologically "blank" DR type, DRB11403, was linked with DRB30101. Other DRB1 types, DRB10301, DRB111(01/04) (*1101 or 1104), and DRB113(01/02) (*1301 or *1302) in the Japanese population were linked mostly with the same DRB3 types, like those known in other ethnic populations.