Next-generation sequencing for clinical HLA typing

下一代测序(NGS)已经被证明可有效的减少人类白细胞抗原(HLA)分型的不准确性和检测成本,同时还可以检测出之前未测序的HLA基因的详细信息。本研究介绍了在Illumina公司的Mi Seq平台上使用NGS开发的HLA分型测定的性能要求。共纳入288个样品,其之前以HLA-A,HLA-B,HLA-C,HLA-DRB1,HLA-DQA/B和HLA-DPA/B为特征,其使用Sanger测序、序列特异性引物和序列特异性寡核苷酸技术进行高分辨率的分型。这些样本携带高比例HLA特异性的等位基因。测序数据使用Omixon的HLA TwinTM进行分析。评估等位基因平衡、敏感性、特异性、精确性、准确性和不准确性。这些结果证明了NGS对HLA分型的可行性和获益处,因为这项技术非常准确,几乎排除了所有的不确定性,为HLA基因长度提供了完整的测序信息,并形成了利用单一方法进行HLA分型的基础免疫遗传学实验室。

Next-generation sequencing（NGS） has proven effective at reducing ambiguities in and costs of human leukocyte antigen（HLA） typing while providing more detailed information on HLA genes not previously sequenced. This study presents the performance specifications of an HLA typing assay developed using NGS on the Illumina Mi Seq platform. A total of 288 samples, previously characterized for HLA-A,-B,-C,-DRB1,-DQA/B, and-DPA/B, which were typed at high-resolution using a combination of Sanger sequencing-based typing, sequence-specific primer and sequence-specific oligonucleotide technologies. These samples carried alleles that cover a high percentage of HLA specificities. Sequencing data were analyzed using the program HLA Twin-（TM） by Omixon. Allele balance, sensitivity, specificity, precision, accuracy, and ambiguity were assessed. The results demonstrate the feasibility and benefit of HLA typing by NGS, as this technology is highly accurate, eliminates virtually all ambiguities, provides complete sequencing information for the length of the HLA gene, and forms the basis for utilizing a single methodology for HLA typing across immunogenetics labs.