HLA class II DNA polymorphism in a Moroccan population from the Souss, Agadir area |
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| Authors: | H. Izaabel H.-J. Garchon S. Caillat-Zucman G. Beaurain O. Akhayat J.-F. Bach A. Sanchez-Mazas |
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| Affiliation: | Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, University Ibnou-Zohr, Agadir, Morocco;Laboratory INSERM U25, Hôpital Necker, Paris, France.;Laboratory of Genetics and Biometry, Departments of Anthropology and Ecology, University of Geneva, Switzerland |
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| Abstract: | Abstract: HLA DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-SSO typing in a sample of the Moroccan population from Souss. Uneven allelic frequency distributions are observed at each locus, with particularly high frequencies for DRB1*0701, DRB1*0301, DQA1*0501, DQA1*0201, and DQB1*0201. Only three haplotypes (DRB1*0701-DQA1*0201-DQB1*0201, DRB1*0301-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201 and DRB1*11-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0301) account for nearly 50% of the total gene frequencies. A genetic distance analysis reveals that the Moroccan population is close to the Spanish and the Algerians, who live in geographically neighboring areas. However, the Souss population is also characterized by a lower level of genetic diversity compared to other African and European populations from the Mediterranean area. This may be the result of a rapid genetic drift due to their likely geographical and/or cultural isolation. |
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| Keywords: | anthropology HLA class II Morocco North Africa PCR-SSO population genetics |
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