Associations between HLA class II alleles in a north Indian population

Abstract

The HLA DR and DQ class II genes are in strong linkage disequilibrium and recombinaton is quite rare. However, many different DR‐DQ haplotypes appear to have developed during evolution, giving rise to a variety of combinations with different distributions in populations. In the present report, 138 subjects from North India were studied for the alleles of HLA‐DRB1, DRB3, DRB5, DQB1 and DQA1 loci using PCR‐oligotyping. The probable haplotypes were constructed based on two‐locus associations observed in this population. A frequent haplotype in this population, DRB1*1501‐DRB5*0101‐DQA1*0103‐DQB1 *0601, has been reported very rarely in other ethnic groups. Other DR2 haplotypes, like DRB1*1502‐DRB5*0102‐DQA1*0103‐DQB1*0601, earlier reported in Caucasians, Chinese and Latin Americans, and DRB1*1502‐DRB5*0102‐DQA1*0103‐DQB1*0503, earlier reported in Gypsies, were also observed. A relatively rare haplotype in Caucasians which was earlier reported in Gypsies from the Czech Republic, DRB1*1404‐DRB3*0202‐DQA1*0101‐DQB1*0503, was observed frequently in Indians, suggesting the probable migration of Gypsies from India. The results suggest that the North Indian population contains a mixture of Caucasoid, Black and Chinese genes. Similarities with Gypsies and South‐East Asian populations suggest the role of ancient migrations from India.

Part of CIRS Nexus · Curated by Lauren Lowenstein, The Biotoxin Lady