辽宁汉族人群HLA-B等位基因多态性的分布

目的调查辽宁汉族人群HLA-B等位基因的遗传多态性。方法用聚合酶链反应．序列特异性引物方法对辽宁8962名健康无关汉族人进行HLA-B等位基因分型，计算HLA-B等位基因频率并与不同人群HLA-B等位基因的多态性进行比较。结果共检出HLA-B等位基因34种，其中B＊15（14．42％）、B＊40（14．33％）和B＊13（11．99％）基因频率分布较高，B＊82、B＊83等位基因未检出；HLA-B座位特异性49种。该人群与南北方汉族人群、日本人、黑人和白人分别进行X^2检验差异有统计学意义，X^2值分别为1584．799、72．145、1393．339、7406．288和5311．947。结论辽宁汉族人群HLA-B基因多态性分布有其自身特点，它的遗传特征不同于既往的南、北方汉族。     

Polymorphism of HLA class I genes in Meizhou Han population of Guangdong, China

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) is an invaluable marker for anthropological studies because of its extreme polymorphism. Most of the studies carried out in Chinese populations are about HLA class II genes, but few about class I genes. In the present study, we investigated HLA class I polymorphism using polymerase chain reaction-sequencing-based typing (PCR-SBT) method in 104 unrelated Han individuals in Meizhou of Guangdong, southern China. Twenty-three HLA-A, 43 HLA-B and 27 HLA-C alleles were identified and allele frequencies and two-locus (C/B) and three-locus (A/C/B) haplotypes were statistically analysed. The most frequent HLA-A allele is A*110101 with a frequency of 30.3%, followed by A*24020101 (22.2%) and A*2420 (11.6%). Among the 43 detected HLA-B alleles, B*5801 (17.0%), B*400101 (15.5%) and B*4601 (10.0%) were frequently observed. Among the 27 detected C alleles, the most predominant one is Cw*07020101 (25.8%), followed by Cw*0717 (14.7%). The most frequent HLA-C/B two-locus haplotype is Cw*07020101/B*400101 (10.1%). The most common HLA-A/C/B three-locus haplotype in Meizhou Han is A*110101/Cw*07020101/B*400101 (3.4%). Phylogenetic tree based on HLA class I allele frequencies genetically suggested that Meizhou Han has an affinity to southern Asian populations. The result may also reflect an admixture of Han and ethnic minorities of southern China.     

山西汉族人群HLA-A、-B、-DRB1基因多态性研究

目的 调查山西汉族人群HLA-A、-B、DRB1基因多态性，获得完整准确的遗传学数据。方法 应用聚合酶链反应，序列特异性引物方法对7440名健康、无血缘关系的山西汉族个体进行HLA—A、-B、-DRB1基因型检测，并与不同人群等位基因进行比较。结果 检出A等位基因18个，B等位基因40个，DRB1等位基因13个，其中A＊02、A＊24、A＊11、A＊01、A＊03、B＊13、B＊51、B＊15、B＊40、B＊35、DRB1＊15、DR＊09、DR＊1：2、DR＊04、DR＊07等位基因频率分布较高。结论 山西汉族人群HLA—A，-B，-DRB1基因具有中国北方汉族人群共有的遗传特征，但也有其自身的分布特点。     

广东汉族人群HLA-B基因多态性研究

目的调查广东汉族人群HLA-B位点基因多态性，比较不同人群HLA—B等位基因频率分布特征。方法应用测序技术测定562名广东汉族人HLA-B位点第2、3、4外显子序列，比对数据库得到分型结果，计算HLA-B等位基因频率并与不同人群进行比较。结果共检测到59种HLA-B等位基因，其中6种等位基因频率≥5％，分别是HLA-B＊4601（14．5％），HLA-B＊400101（14．4％），HLA—B＊1502（11．5％），HLA—B＊1301（8．6％），HLA-B＊5801（8．1％）和HLA-B＊380201（6．4％）。这6种等位基因的等位基因频率合计为63．5％。同时，检测到30种等位基因频率〈0．5％的HLA-B等位基因，这30种等位基因的等位基因频率合计为4．9％。广东汉族人群HLA-B等位基因频率总体分布与中国香港华人、新加坡华人比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），但与日本人比较差异有统计学意义。结论分析了HLA-B基因在广东汉族人群中的分布特征，提供了较完整的HLA-B等位基因频率分布资料，为遗传学及疾病相关性等研究提供了重要的参考数据。     

HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 alleles and haplotypes in Naxi and Han populations in southwestern China (Yunnan province)

The frequencies of the human leukocyte antigen alleles HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 and the A-B-DRB1, A-B, and B-DRB1 haplotypes were studied in Naxi and Yunnan Han populations using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-sequence-specific amplification for alleles A and B and a PCR-microtiter plate hybridization method for the DRB1 allele. A total of 8 A, 19 B, and 30 DRB1 alleles were found in the Naxi population, and 15 A, 21 B, and 36 DRB1 alleles were found in Yunnan Han population. The common A-B-DRB1 haplotypes in the Naxi population were A*24-B*15-DRB1*1202, A*11-B*15-DRB1*0405, A*11-B*15-DRB1*1202, A*11-B*38-DRB1*08032, and A*11-B*55-DRB1*0405; the common A-B haplotypes were A*11-B*15, A*11-B*38, and A*24-B*15; and the common B-DRB1 haplotypes were B*15-DRB1*1202, B*38-DRB1*08032, and B*48-DRB1*1201. In the Yunnan Han population, the common A-B-DRB1 haplotypes were A*24-B*15-DRB1*1501, A*24-B*46-DRB1*08032, and A*24-B*15-DRB1*1201; the common A-B haplotypes were A*24-B*15, A*24-B*46, and A*34-B*46; and the common B-DRB1 haplotypes were B*15-DRB1*1501, B*46-DRB1*09012, and B*46-DRB1*1401. Phylogenetic tree and principal component analyzes based on HLA-A, HLA-B, and DRB1 allele frequencies suggested that the Naxi ethnic group belongs to the southern Chinese groups, while the Yunnan Han population is a characteristic population located intermediate between northern and southern Chinese groups, although they live in the southwest of China.     

Diversity of HLA-B61 alleles and haplotypes in East Asians and Spanish Gypsies

Abstract: The distribution of HLA-B61 alleles and their association with HLA-C and DRB1 alleles were investigated in six East Asian populations (South Korean, Chinese Korean, Man (Manchu), Northern Han, Mongolian and Buryat) and Spanish Gypsies and compared to our previous report on the Japanese population. The alleles were identified using a group-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and genomic DNA followed by hybridization with sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (SSOP)- Both HLA-B*4002 and B*4006 were commonly detected in the South Korean, Chinese Korean, Man, Northern Han and Japanese populations, while HLA-B*4002 was predominant in the Mongolian and Buryat populations. Strong associations of B*4002 with Cw*0304 and of B*4006 with Cw*0801 were commonly observed in these East Asian populations. In contrast, in Spanish Gypsies, only HLA-B*4006 was found and the allele exhibited a strong association with Cw*1502. HLA-B*4003 was also identified in the South Korean, Chinese Korean, Northern Han, Mongolian and Japanese populations at relatively low frequencies, and exhibited an association with Cw*0304. Moreover, the association of these B61 alleles with the DRB1 alleles revealed considerable diversity among the different populations. HLA-B*4004 and B*4009 were not observed in these populations. Consequently, the frequencies of the B61 alleles varied among the different East Asian populations, but the individual B61 alleles were carried by specific haplotypes often regardless of the ethnic differences.     

Allelic and haplotype diversity of HLA‐A,HLA‐B and HLA‐DRB1 gene at high resolution in the Nanning Han population

The distribution of human leucocyte antigen (HLA) allele and haplotype varied among different ethnic populations. In this study, we investigated the allele and haplotype frequencies of HLA‐A, HLA‐B and HLA‐DRB1 loci in the Nanning Han population who live in Guangxi province of China. We identified 26 HLA‐A, 56 HLA‐B and 31 HLA‐DRB1 alleles in 562 Nanning individuals of Han ethnic group by sequence‐based typing method. Of these, the three most common alleles in HLA‐A, HLA‐B and HLA‐DRB1 loci, respectively, were A*11:01 (32.12%), A*02:07 (12.54%), A*24:02 (12.01%); B*46:01 (14.41%), B*15:02 (13.61%), B*40:01 (11.48%); DRB1*15:01 (14.15%), DRB1*16:02 (11.57%) and DRB1*12:02 (10.14%). With the exception of HLA‐DRB1, the p values of the HLA‐A and HLA‐B loci showed that the HLA allelic distribution in this population was in accordance with Hardy–Weinberg expectation (p > 0.05). A total of 173 HLA~A‐B~DRB1 haplotype with a frequency of >0.1% were presented and the three most common haplotype were HLA‐A*33:03~B*58:01~DRB1*03:01 (6.12%), HLA‐A*11:01~B*15:02~DRB1*12:02 (3.39%) and HLA‐A*11:01~B*15:02~DRB1*15:01 (3.22%). The phylogenetic tree and the principal component analysis suggested that Nanning Han population had a relative close genetic relationship with Chinese Zhuang population and a relative distant genetic relationship with Northern Han Chinese. The information will be useful for anthropological studies, for HLA matching in transplantation and disease association studies in the Chinese population.     

Diversity of human leukocyte antigen-B27 alleles in Han population of Hunan province, southern China

This study was to investigate the frequency of HLA-B27 and its subtypes in the Han population of Hunan province, southern China. One hundred and sixty-nine healthy unrelated donors were tested for HLA-B27 by polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP). One hundred and twenty-eight B27-positive spondyloarthropathy patients and 18 B27-positive healthy controls were subtyped using the high-resolution PCR-SSP. The phenotype frequency of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 was found to be 2.36% in healthy population. Five B27 alleles were identified: B*2704, B*2705, B*2706, B*2707, and B*2724. No significant difference was found in the distribution of HLA-B27 subtypes between the patients and controls studied. Notably, B*2724 was observed in a juvenile patient with ankylosing spondylitis. This subtype has not been previously reported in Chinese ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and other ethnic groups.     

兰州地区汉族人群HLA-A、B和DRB1等位基因多态性分析

目的分析兰州地区汉族人群HLA-A、B和DRB1位点等位基因多态性特点。方法采用序列特异性引物聚合酶链反应技术对兰州地区200名健康无血缘关系的汉族个体HLA-A、B和DRB1基因座进行分型，并与西北、北方和南方汉族、西北回族、维吾尔族和藏族人群进行比较。结果兰州汉族人群中HLA-A基因座共检出14个等位基因，以A＊02，A＊11，A＊24，A＊33，A＊30，A＊01和A＊31基因最常见；HLA—B基因座共检出32个等位基因，以B＊40，B＊15，B＊46，B＊13，B＊51，B＊60，B＊58和B＊44基因最为常见；HLA-DRB1基因座共检出13个等位基因，最多见的基因依次为DRB1＊09．DRB＊15，DRB1＊12，DRB1＊04，DRB1＊11，DRB1＊07，DRB1＊08和DRB1＊14，接近北方汉族而与南方汉族有差异，与西北回族无明显差异，但与西北维吾尔族和藏族差异有统计学意义。结论兰州地区汉族人群HLA-A、B和DRB1位点等位基因多态性与南、北汉族人群存在不同程度的差异，与西北维吾尔族和藏族差异显著。     

大连地区汉族人群HLA-A,-B,-DRB1 位点基因多态性研究

目的:了解大连地区汉族人群HLA-A,-B,-DRB1 位点基因多态性分布特征。方法:采用基因测序及序列特异性寡核苷酸探针的方法对10 000 名居住在大连地区健康汉族造血干细胞捐献者进行HLA-A,-B,-DRB1 基因分型,从而得到等位基因频率。利用ARLEQUIN 软件估算单倍型频率及连锁不平衡参数,使用poptree2 软件计算两人群间遗传距离(DA)。结果:大连地区汉族人群中共检出HLA-A 基因18 个、HLA-B 基因32 个、HLA-DRB1 基因13 个,HLA-A*02(31.65%)、B*40(14.84%)、DRB1*15(15.82%)最为常见。三位点单倍型中A*30-B*13-DRB1*07(4.56%)频率最占优势,A*02-B*46-DRB1*09(2.43%)次之。A*30-B*13(6.00%)与B*13-DRB1*07(59.89%)为频率最高的两位点单倍型。A*33-B*58与B*13-DRB1*07 为大连地区汉族人群中最强连锁不平衡两位点单倍型,连锁不平衡参数分别为0.336 6 和0.665 1。大连汉族人群与国内某些人群进行比较,遗传距离最近的是黑龙江(0.001),其次为吉林(0.002)和山东(0.002),遗传距离最远的是台湾(0.047)。与国外其他人群进行比较,遗传距离最近的是泰国(0.029)和韩国(0.03),而遗传距离最远的是意大利(0.183)。结论:大连地区汉族人群HLA-A,-B,-DRB1 基因具有较为丰富的多态性,其分布符合北方人群的特点。     

Characterization of HLA-E polymorphism in four distinct populations in Mainland China

In this study, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-E allelic typing was performed for 690 individuals from two southern Chinese Han populations (Hunan Han and Guangdong Han) and two northern Chinese populations (Inner Mongolia Han and Inner Mongolia Mongol) using polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific priming (PCR-SSP) method. Our data showed that (1) HLA-E*01:01 and HLA-E*01:03, but not E*01:04 allele, were detected in the four populations, HLA-E distribution differed significantly between each of the two southern Chinese Han populations and the Inner Mongolia Mongol population, and between Hunan Han population and Inner Mongolia Han population; (2) HLA-G*01:05N-A*30-E*01:01-C*06-B*13:02-DRB1*07 was a conserved extended haplotype in the Chinese Han populations; (3) five HLA-A-E haplotypes showed significant linkage disequilibrium (LD) in at least one population, including HLA-A*02-E*01:03 in populations except for the Inner Mongolia Mongol group, HLA-A*01-E*01:01 and HLA-A*30-E*01:01 in the Hunan Han and the Inner Mongolia Han populations, HLA-A*33-E*01:01 in the two southern Chinese Han populations and HLA-A*03-E*01:03 in the Inner Mongolia Mongol group; and (4) Ewens-Watterson homozygosity test showed a trend for balancing selection at the HLA-E locus in each of the four populations. Our data unraveled the peculiarity in terms of HLA-E allelic and haplotypic repertoire in four main ethnic groups in Mainland China, findings shown here are valuable for future studies of the potential role of HLA-E in allogeneic organ transplantation and HLA-linked disease association in related ethnic groups.     

Analysis of the HLA-A,-B allele polymorphism in 5844 umbilical cord blood samples taken from Han population of Shandong province

To investigate the HLA-A, -B allele polymorphism in Han population of Shandong province and to explore the possibility to find out the HLA-A, -B-matched cord blood donors for stem cell transplantation to be used in other area in China, 5844 umbilical cord blood samples were taken from Han population donors of Shandong province, and assayed with PCR-sequence-oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO) assay. In Shandong Han donors, 20 alleles at HLA-A locus and 46 alleles at HLA-B locus could be detected as revealed in the present study. Among the 20 alleles at HLA-A locus, the most prevalent five alleles included A * 02(0.3041), A * 11(0.1443), A * 24(0.1434), A * 30(0.0975) and A * 33(0.0859), while, the alleles with lower gene frequencies included A * 34(0.0006), A * 25 (0.0005), A*66(0.0005), A* 74(0.0004) and A* (0.0001). Of the 46 HLA-B alleles detected, the most prevalent five alleles were B * 13(0.1348), B * 51(0.0713), B * 62(0.0712), B * 61 (0.0676) and B * 60(0.0642); while alleles with lower gene frequencies included B * 77(0.0001), B * 76(0.0002), B * 47(0.0003), B * 42(0.0003) and B * 72(0.0004). In comparison with those of the other Han population in China, the HLA-A, -B gene frequencies in the umbilical cord blood of Shandong province possess unique distribution features among the investigated populations from various regions of the same race origin, and the differences in various regions of the same race were less than those among the different race. It is evident that the HLA-A,-B alleles of the umbilical cord blood taken in Shangdong province show high degree of polymorphism, and it might be part of those of Northern Han population in China. So, it is reasonable for patients of Northern Chinese to receive HLA class I -match transplant of cord blood stem cells for tissue and organ transplantation from Shangdong umbilical cord blood bank.     

Characterization of the major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene B (MICB) polymorphism in a northern Chinese Han population: the identification of a new MICB allele, MICB*023

Major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene B (MICB) has only been characterized for allelic variation in very few human populations. The MICB polymorphism remains largely unknown in Chinese populations. In this study, 104 healthy unrelated Han subjects recruited from central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northern China, were investigated by sequence-based typing for MICB allelic variation, the association of MICB alleles with AluyMICB insertion/deletion dimorphism located in MICB intron 1, linkage disequilibrium of MICB with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B and MICA, and HLA-A-C-B-MICA-MICB haplotypic diversity. Ten kinds of MICB alleles were observed, among which MICB*005:02/010, MICB*002:01, and MICB*004:01 were the most frequent alleles with frequencies of 51.44, 16.35, and 11.54%, respectively. Significant linkage disequilibrium (LD) was observed for 9 of the 21 HLA-B-MICB haplotypes and 6 of the 17 MICA-MICB haplotypes with a frequency >1.5%. In particular, HLA-B*13:01 and HLA-B*13:02, both of which were frequently represented in this population, exhibited a distinct LD pattern with the MICB allele. A new MICB allele, MICB*023, was identified, which differed from MICB*005:02/010 by a single mutation of G to A at position 86 in exon 2, resulting in an amino acid change from arginine to histidine at codon 6. HLA-A*30-C*06-B*13:02-MICA*008:01-MICB*005:02/010 was the most common haplotype, with a frequency of 8.64% in this population. HLA-A*02-C*08-B*48-MICA*Del-MICB*009N demonstrated a frequency of 2.4% in this population. Our results provide for the first time data regarding the MICB genetic polymorphism in northern Chinese Han populations and will form the basis for future studies of the potential role of MICB in allogeneic organ transplantation and disease association in related ethnic groups.     

The polymorphism and haplotype analysis of HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 genes of population in Jiangsu province of China

The polymorphism of human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-A, -B and -DRB1 genes and their computed haplotype analysis results from a population of Jiangsu province of China are presented here. The data consist of 20 248 unrelated peripheral blood stem cell donors in Jiangsu Branch of Chinese National Marrow Donor Program registry. In total, 18 different HLA-A alleles, 34 different HLA-B alleles and 13 different HLA-DRB1 alleles were found in Jiangsu Han population. The most frequent alleles in HLA-A, -B and -DRB1 loci were A*02 (29.55%), B*15 (14.40%), and DRB1*09 (16.15%), respectively. The most common haplotype in A-B-DRB1 loci was A*30-B*13- DRB1*07 (6.92%), in A-B loci was A*30-B*13 (8.05%), in B-DRB1 loci was B*13-DRB1*07 (8.17%), and in A-DRB1 loci was A*02-DRB1*09 (8.30%). The dendrogram study indicated that the distribution of HLA genes in Jiangsu Han population, as expected, represented a mixture of Northern and Southern Han population in China. These findings could shade new lights in population genetics and anthropology studies of Han-Chinese.     

MICA genetic polymorphism and HLA-A,C,B,MICA and DRB1 haplotypic variation in a southern Chinese Han population: identification of two new MICA alleles, MICA*060 and MICA*062

In this study, 201 healthy, unrelated Han subjects in Hunan province, southern China, were investigated by sequence-based typing (SBT) for the allelic variation of the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I chain-related gene A (MICA). Nineteen MICA alleles were observed, among which MICA*008:01 predominated with gene frequency of 30.35%. There was significant linkage disequilibrium (LD) of MICA*012:01 with HLA-B*54 and HLA-B*55, which was not observed in a northern Chinese Han population. Haplotype HLA-A*11-C*07-B60-MICA*008:01 (9.16%) was highly specific to this southern Chinese Han population. The most common five-locus haplotype in this population was HLA-A*02-C*01-B*46-MICA*010-DRB1*09 (8.73%). A new MICA allele, MICA*060, was identified on an HLA-A*02-C*01-B*55:02-DRB1*14 haplotype through extended family analysis. MICA*060 has probably arisen from MICA*012:01. Another new MICA allele, MICA*062, was identified by screening 1432 subjects using polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific priming technology. MICA*062 has probably derived from MICA*010. Of particular interest is that MICA*062 was carried on an HLA-C*08-B*48:01-DRB1*14 haplotypic segment, as HLA-B*48 has been consistently shown to be primarily linked to MICA gene deletion in east Asian populations. Our results provide new insight into MICA genetic polymorphism in human populations. The findings reported here are of importance for future studies on the potential role of MICA in allogeneic organ transplantation and disease association in populations of Chinese ancestry.     

西藏门巴族人群HLA-A、B和DRB1基因座多态性

目的 分析西藏门巴族HLA-A、B和DRB1 3个基因座的遗传特征，并研究其民族起源。方法应用序列特异性寡核苷酸探针反向斑点杂交技术对西藏自治区门巴族居住区47名门巴族无关个体HLA-A、B和DRB1基因座进行分型。对门巴族和我国其他11个群体(民族)的HLA-DRB1基因频率采用Neighbor-Joining(NJ)方法进行聚类分析。结果 在西藏门巴族人群中HLA-A基因座共检出23个等位基因，其中HLA-A*1101，A*2402，A*02011，A*0206基因最常见；HLA-B基因座共检出39个等位基因，其中HLA-B*3802，B*4001，B*4002，B*51011基因最常见；HLA-DRB1基因座共检出33个等位基因，其中HLA-DRB1*12021，DRB1*0403，DRB1*0701，DRB1*1201基因最常见，频率最高的等位基因分别是HLA-A*1101(0．2128)，HLA-B*3802(0．1064)和HLA-DRB1*12021(0．0851)。结论 西藏门巴族人群HLA基因座具有高度遗传多态性，聚类分析门巴族与西藏藏族遗传关系较近。     

Distribution of MICA haplotypes in a Chinese Han population

The MICA gene encodes nonclassical major histocompatibility complex class I molecules, centromeric to HLA-B and telomeric to HLA-DRB1. The MICA genes are polymorphic. The immune response against MICA may correlate with a decrease in graft survival after transplantation. However, data on the frequency of MICA polymorphisms in different populations are limited. In this study, we determined MICA allelic frequencies in a Han population living in Guangdong Province in south China. A total of 15 MICA alleles were identified using sequence-based typing. The most frequent allele was MICA*010 (22.22%), followed by MICA*002:01(18.56%), MICA*008:01(16.32%), and MICA*019(14.93%). The MICA null gene (MICA*Del) exhibited a frequency of 1.743% in this population. MICA and HLA, MICA-HLA-B, and MICA-HLA-A/HLA-B/HLA-DRB1 haplotype frequencies were estimated. The most common 2-, 3- and 4-locus haplotypes were HLA-B*40:01-MICA*008:01 (13.70%), HLA-A*11:01-B*40:01-MICA*008:01(8.25%), and HLA-A*33:03-B*58:01-DRB1*03:01-MICA*002:01(5.22%). A new MICA allele, MICA*061, was identified and appears to be evolutionarily related to MICA*012:01. This study provides high-resolution information on the distribution of haplotypes with MICA, HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 in China. This information should help determine the mechanisms underlying diseases and allotransplant rejection associated with MICA polymorphisms in the southern Chinese Han population.     

HLA-B27 polymorphism in Mumbai, Western India

Human leucocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 encompasses an increasing number of subtypes that show diverse racial/ethnic prevalence in the world. One thousand-one-hundred and seventy unrelated individuals from Mumbai, Maharashtra, Western India were typed for HLA-B27 antigen by serological methods. HLA-B27 positivity was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction using sequence specific primers. High-resolution typing using sequence specific primers for HLA-B27 alleles (B*2701 - B*2721) was carried out in 70 HLA-B27-positive individuals. The frequency of B27 ranged between 1.48 and 9.6% among the caste groups studied. HLA-B27 subtyping identified B*2702 (1.43%), B*2704 (14.29%), B*2705 (70%), B*2707 (12.86%) and B*2718 (1.43%), respectively. The findings illustrate substantial genetic variation and heterogeneity within population groups from India. Extensive subtyping in other Indian caste groups will be necessary to resolve the evolutionary implications of HLA-B27 subtypes and their relationship to disease association in the Indian context.     

HLA-B44 subtyping in a Spanish population: further evidence of Caucasian population diversity

HLA-B44 is the most frequent HLA-B allele in Caucasian populations. Several B44 subtypes, B*4402-B*4406, have been identified in individuals with this ethnic origin. Mismatches among B44 subtypes have been described as major targets for allogeneic responses in bone marrow transplantation. We have developed a PCR-SSO method, based on a B12- specific DNA amplification of exon 2 through exon 3 and subsequent non radioactive hybridization with eight probes, which allow us to discriminate all B12 homozygous combinations. We applied this method to determine the frequency of B44 subtypes in a Spanish population, as well as their HLA-A.-C.-DRB1,-DRB3/DRB4/DRB5.-DQA1 and -DQB1 associated haplotypes. A total of 141 healthy unrelated Spanish individuals and 31 B44-bearing haplotypes were investigated. Four B44 alleles were identified, B*4402 (33%), B*4403 (66%), B*4404 (0.7%), and B*4405 (0.7%). Haplotype analysis showed a clear differentiated distribution pattern for the two major B44 subtypes. B*4402 is associated with Cw5 (11/13) and A2 antigens (10/13). In contrast, B*4403 is mainly found together with DRB1*0701 (14/16). An inverted B*4402/B*4403 frequency in comparison with other European and North American Caucasian populations, revealed the existence of an extended haplotype diversity between populations of the same ethnic origin. Apart from anthropological studies, high resolution typing for HLA class I antigens presenting molecular polymorphism will be of great relevance in unrelated bone marrow transplantation.     

HLA-A and HLA-B in Kenya,Africa: allele frequencies and identification of HLA-B*1567 and HLA-B*4426

HLA-A and HLA-B alleles of a population from Kenya, Africa were examined by sequencing exon 2 and exon 3 DNA and typing using a Taxonomy-based Sequence-analysis (TBSA) method. Extensive diversities were observed at both HLA-A and HLA-B loci in this population. Forty-one HLA-A alleles were identified from 159 unrelated individuals. The most frequently observed alleles were A*6802 (11.64%), A*02011/09 (9.75%), A*7401/02 (9.43%), A*3001 (7.86%), A*3002 (7.23%) and A*3601 (6.6%). Forty-nine HLA-B alleles were identified in 161 unrelated individuals, including two novel alleles, B*1567 and B*4426. The most frequently observed HLA-B alleles were B*5301 (9.01%), B*5801 (8.38%), B*4201 (7.76%), B*1503 (7.14%), B*1801 (6.21%), and B*5802 (5.90%). The most frequently observed HLA-A-B haplotypes were A*3601-B*5301 (3.55%) and A*3001-B*4201 (3.19%), followed by A*7401/02-B*5801 (2.84%), A*7401/02-B*5802 (2.84%) and A*02011/09-B*1503 (2.13%). Linkage disequilibrium and chi2 analysis showed the association of these HLA-A-B haplotypes at the antigen level to be significant. The frequencies of HLA-A and HLA-B alleles from the Kenyan population were compared with that of a population from Cameroon. The difference in allele and haplotype frequency distributions partly reflected the different ethnic composition of these two African populations.