DQ ? and ? RFLP reveals the composition of the DQ molecule recognized by T-cell clones

Abstract

Pst I RFLP, revealed with DQ _α and DQ _β probes, was compared with Taq I RFLP using a panel of DR-homozygous cell lines and HLA-typed family members. Taq I patterns, characteristic for each DR-associated DQ α and β allelic forms, were recognized in the homozygous state and then proven to segregate in the heterozygous members of informative families. The presence of both specific α and β chains was found to be necessary to form the type of DQ molecule specifically recognized by two alloreactive T-cell clones. Particular α and β associations also seem to be responsible for some Dw splits of the DRw6-positive cells. Taq I RFLP analysis may be more complex than the Pst I analysis, but is certainly more informative and complete, considering the type of information we were seeking by performing these types of experiments.