HLA typing for bone marrow transplantation: new polymerase chain reaction-based methods

Article Abstract:

Recent advances in DNA-based human leukocyte antigen (HLA) typing may reveal alternative forms of the genes at the HLA loci, which may aid understanding of HLA matching. HLA is any of the four major genetic markers that are used to determine the level of tissue compatibility between potential bone marrow donors and recipients. Highly compatible tissues decrease the risk that the recipient's immune system will attack the marrow. Standard HLA typing tests cannot distinguish all of the alternative forms of the genes at the HLA class I and class II loci and they have a relatively high error rate. As a result, the biological appearance of HLA in unrelated donors and recipients may be identical, although the DNA is mismatched. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests are a method to copy DNA for analysis. The 'reverse blot' PCR method can identify alternative forms of genes at the HLA class I and class II loci and is suitable for clinical laboratory use.

Bone marrow, Bone marrow transplantation, HLA histocompatibility antigens, HLA antigens, Histocompatibility

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Molecular Staging of Malignant Melanoma: Correlation With Clinical Outcome

Article Abstract:

Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect small amounts of metastatic cancer in lymph nodes may be more effective than pathological examination in predicting relapse. Researchers biopsied the sentinel lymph node in 114 patients treated for melanoma. Half of each sample was tested with PCR and the other half was examined by a pathologist. Twenty percent of the patients tested positive with both methods and 61% had a relapse. The relapse rate among the 44 who tested negative with both methods was only 2%. However, 13% of the 47 patients who tested positive on PCR but negative on examination relapsed.

Medical examination, Prognosis, Cancer, Melanoma, Lymph nodes, Cancer recurrence

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Chromosome 19 single-locus and multilocus haplotype associations with multiple sclerosis: evidence of a new susceptibility locus in Caucasian and Chinese patients

Article Abstract:

A possible link between a gene on chromosome 19 and multiple sclerosis (MS) has been identified. Researchers found the link after performing genetic analysis on 120 Caucasian MS patients and 32 Chinese MS patients. Both groups were compared with similar groups that did not have MS. A strong link was found on chromosome 19q13.2, but it was not due to the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene, which is at that location. Links were also found to the HLA DRB1*1501, DQA1*0102, and DQB1*0602 genes, which are on chromosome 6p21.3. No link was found to the myelin basic protein (MBP) gene.

Analysis, Gene mutations, Gene mutation, Identification and classification, Multiple sclerosis, Human chromosomes

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