HLA-DR typing by PCR amplification with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP) in 2 hours: an alternative to serological DR typing in clinical practice including donor-recipient matching in cadaveric transplantation

Tissue Antigens. 1992 May;39(5):225-35. doi: 10.1111/j.1399-0039.1992.tb01940.x.

Abstract

In most PCR-based tissue typing techniques the PCR amplification is followed by a post-amplification specificity step. In typing by PCR amplification with sequence-specific primers (PCR-SSP), typing specificity is part of the amplification step, which makes the technique almost as fast as serological tissue typing. In the present study primers were designed for DR "low-resolution" typing by PCR-SSP, i.e. identifying polymorphism corresponding to the serologically defined series DR1-DRw18. This resolution was achieved by performing 19 PCR reactions per individual, 17 for assigning DR1-DRw18 and 2 for the DRw52 and DRw53 superspecificities. Thirty cell lines and 121 individuals were typed by the DR "low-resolution" PCR-SSP technique, TaqI DRB-DQA-DQB RFLP analysis and serology. The concordance between PCR-SSP typing and RFLP analysis was 100%. The reproducibility was 100% in 40 samples typed on two separate occasions. No false-positive or false-negative typing results were obtained. All homozygous and heterozygous combinations of DR1-DRw18 could be distinguished. Amplification patterns segregated according to dominant Mendelian inheritance. DNA preparation, PCR amplification and post-amplification processing, including gel detection, documentation and interpretation, were performed in 2 hours. In conclusion, PCR-SSP is an accurate typing technique with high sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility. The method is rapid and inexpensive. DR "low-resolution" typing by the PCR-SSP technique is ideally suited for analyzing small numbers of samples simultaneously and is an alternative to serological DR typing in routine clinical practice including donor-recipient matching in cadaveric transplantations.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Base Sequence
  • Cadaver
  • Genes, MHC Class II*
  • HLA-DR Antigens / genetics*
  • Histocompatibility Testing / methods*
  • Humans
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Oligonucleotide Probes*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction*
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Donors
  • Transplantation Immunology*

Substances

  • HLA-DR Antigens
  • Oligonucleotide Probes