DdeI polymorphism in the HLA-DRA regulatory region

Autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP; RP6): cosegregation of RP6 and the peripherin-RDS locus in a late-onset family of Irish origin

We recently reported the localization of a gene for late-onset autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP; RP6), on the short arm of chromosome 6, by linkage analysis in a large family of Irish origin. It is notable that the gene encoding peripherin-RDS, a photoreceptor-specific protein, recently has been physically mapped on 6p. In our own analysis, an intrageneic marker derived from this gene cosegregated with the adRP disease locus with zero recombination (lod score 5.46 at q = .00). Using the CEPH reference panel, we now report the mapping of the peripherin-RDS gene relative to other 6p markers in the CEPH data base. Incorporation of these data into a multipoint analysis produced a lod score for adRP of 8.21, maximizing at the peripherin-RDS locus. This study provides strong evidence suggesting a role for peripherin-RDS in the etiology of one form of adRP.

Autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa: localization of a disease gene (RP6) to the short arm of chromosome 6

DNA from members of an Irish pedigree presenting with late onset autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa (ADRP) have been typed with a series of genetic markers from chromosome 6p. Positive two-point lod scores have been obtained with five markers (D6S89: theta = 0.10, Z = 3.338; D6S109: theta = 0.10, Z = 3.932; D6S105: theta = 0.00, Z = 6.081; HLA-DRA: theta = 0.00, Z = 4.364; and RDS: theta = 0.00, Z = 5.376). In a series of overlapping multipoint analyses a lod score of 6.6 was obtained, maximizing at HLA-DRA and hence localizing the ADRP gene (RP5) segregating in this pedigree to 6p. These data provide direct evidence for an additional autosomal dominant RP locus and strongly implicate the human equivalent of the mouse retinal degeneration slow (rds) gene, peripherin-rds, as a candidate for autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa.

Description of a polymorphism in the regulatory region of the HLA-DRA gene

It was previously reported that the cell membrane expression of HLA class II molecules is tissue specific and variable among individuals. This variation could be explained at the level of gene regulation. Due to the fact that a coordinate regulation of the HLA-DR genes seems to exist, we focused on the HLA-DRA monomorphic gene. In order to study the polymorphism of the HLA-DRA gene regulatory region, we used restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-amplified genomic DNA. The DdeI and PvuII digestions of the amplified DNA permitted the definition of the two alleles according to the absence (allele A) or the presence (allele B) of the two polymorphic restriction sites. The presence of these sites was confirmed by direct sequencing after PCR. Using homozygous typing cells, a close relationship between the HLA-DRB coding region and the HLA-DRA regulatory region polymorphisms was shown. Furthermore, a linkage between the HLA-DRA regulatory region and DRB3 gene coding region polymorphisms could be established. These results suggested a structural argument for different levels of HLA class II genes and, consequently, of cell-surface expression of class II antigens according to the allelic specificities of DRA, DRB1, and DRB3.