Characterization of a new HLA-DRB1*01 allele (HLA-DRB1*010203) in a Caucasian Italian family by using sequence-based typing.

We report the identification of an HLA-DRB1*01 nucleotide sequence variant in three members of a Caucasian Italian family by using sequence -based typing. The nucleotide sequence of exon 2 observed in the new allele is identical to that of HLA-DRB1*010201 except in position 189 (codon 34) where the adenine of the consensus was replaced by a guanine and it was designated officially as HLA-DRB1*010203* by the WHO Nomenclature Committee. The nucleotide sequence is available at the EBML database under accession number AJ430382.1.