HLA-DQ7

HLA-DQ7 (DQ7) is an HLA-DQ serotype that recognizes the common HLA DQB1*0301 and the less common HLA DQB1*0304 gene products. DQ7 is a form of 'split antigen' of the broad antigen group DQ3 which also contains DQ8 and DQ9.

DQ7 is linked by haplotype to a number of DQA1 (DQ alpha chain) genes, producing in cis-haplotype form, a large number of DQ αβ isoforms. These DQ alpha chains are also known to form transhaplotype isomers with other HLA-DQ.

DQ7 is linked to the following alpha chains genes (DQA1*)

Serotyping efficiency. The serotyping efficiency of DQ7 toward DQB1*0301 is reasonably good, but still results in some false negatives, for *0304 the typing efficiency is poor and cross-reaction with DQ8 is relatively high.

DQB1*0301 is the major DQ7 allele DQB1*0301 appears to be associated with lupus anticoagulant.

DQB1*0304 is the minor DQ7 allele

DQ haplotypes of this serotype are formed between the cis-chromosomal genes of the DQA1 locus. This includes DQA1*0301, *0302, *0303, *0401, *0505, *0601.

There is a rather large degree of disequilibration about DQA1*0301 suggesting that this is one of the older and more established HLA DQB1* alleles in Eurasia. The intron structure of DQB1 suggest that DQB1*0301 DQB1*0302/*0303 split occurred before DQB1*0302/*0303, the distribution of *03 in Africa suggest that recombination DQA1*03:DQB1*0301 are primarily the result of recombination events that have occurred in Africa. A recent study of myasthenia gravis in Houston confirms the presence of A*0505:B*0301 in Nigeria. B1*0301 and A1*03 haplotypes are found at relatively high frequencies in SE Asia and Austronesia, also indicating that it is well established in the exo-African population.

The DQ7.3 haplotype can be formed by DQA1*0301:DQB1*0301, DQA1*0302:DQB1*0301, DQA1*0303:DQB1*0301. In the west, the DQA1*0303:DQB1*0301 haplotype appears to be more common. The gene products of all 3 function similarly and subunits are interchangeable. In the literature, older DNA tests recognize DQA1*0303 as DQA1*0302, and still oldest DNA tests recognize all three as DQA1*03 or DQA1*0301.

DQA1*0303:DQB1*0301 may be involved in narcolepsy. DQ7.3 appears to be associated with oral ulcerations and gingival disease

DQA1*0401:DQB1*0301 (DQ7.4) This haplotype is found in Siberia, Africa but also at low levels in Western Europe.

DQA1*0505:DQB1*0301 (DQ7.5) was gene-typed as DQA1*0501:DQB1*0301 until it was recognized that there was amino acid sequence variant in the preprocessed DQA1* gene product (proto-α-chain polypeptide encoded DQA1*0505). This proto-alpha, once processed, is identical to the DQA1*0501 encoded α-chain once it is processed. Almost 100% of DQ7.5 haplotypes carry the DQA1*0505 allele. The DR5-DQ7.5 is common in the Southeastern Europe and the Levant, with DQ7.5 reaching a haplotype frequency of 40% in Lebanon. Its high level is probably not by chance, the haplotype appears to protect against juvenile diabetes, which appears to be more common among cereal eating peoples.Cereals were first domesticated in the Near and Middle East more than 10,000 years ago and selection may explain DQ7.5's higher frequencies. (See: Triticeae)

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