Major histocompatibility complex class I and II antigens frequencies in Baloch ethnic group living in the southeast region of Iran.
BACKGROUND
Human leukocyte antigens have become key components to investigate the genetic relationships between populations.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of HLA class I and II alleles among the Baloch ethnic group of southeastern in comparison with the Parsi ethnic group, thereby establishing a database for further investigations on the ancestry and genetic factors contributing to complex diseases in this region.


METHODS
Thirty unrelated Balochi individuals from southeast Iran and 108 Parsi unrelated individuals were serologically typed using standard microcytotoxicity assays with commercial and local trays.


RESULTS
The most frequent class I alleles of the Baloch ethnic group were HLA-A01 (53.3%), -A02 (30%), -A09 (23.3%), -A11 (20%), -A23 (23.3%), -B05 (53.3%), and -B08 (26.7%). The class II alleles more frequently observed were HLA-DR1 (26.7%), -DR2 (43.3%), -DR3 (20%), -DR4 (33.3%), -DR7 (26.7%), -DR11 (33.7%), -DRw52 (83.3%), -DRw53 (36.7%), -DQ1 (46.7%), -DQ2 (20%), and -DQ3 (40%). In contrast with the Parsi ethnic group, the frequencies for the following alleles were significantly higher in Baloch than Parsi. HLA-A01, -A23, -A25, -B05, -B08, -B16, -B17, -B60, -DR14, -DQ4, and -DQ7. In contrast, the frequencies of HLA-Cw4 and -DQ3 alleles in the Parsi were significantly higher than the Baloch ethnic group.


CONCLUSIONS
This first study of HLA in widely dispersed areas of Iran represents an important resource for investigators in the fields of transplantation immunology and population genetics.
Khazaei
H A
HA
Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology of Children's Medical Center Immunology, Asthma and Allergy Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.
Aghamohammadi
A
A
Rezaei
N
N
Nikbin
B
B
Khosravi
M A
MA
MiriMoghaddam
I
I
D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics*; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006681:HLA-D Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex
D006681:HLA-D Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I