HLA class II DNA typing in Buerger's disease

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 (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.