title: HLA class II disease associations in southern Africa.
abstract: Southern Africa harbors several population groups representing a diversity of gene pool origins. This provides a unique opportunity to study genetic disease predisposition in these populations against a common environmental background. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) association studies of these populations could improve knowledge on inter-population variation and HLA-related disease susceptibility. The aim of this paper is to review HLA class II disease associations reported for southern African population groups, compare them with findings in other populations and identify those unique to southern Africa. A number of HLA class II disease associations appear to be unique to southern African populations. These include DRB1*14011 association with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus susceptibility in the Xhosa and DRB1*10 and DQB1*0302 with rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility in the South African (SA) Indian and SA Coloreds, respectively. A noteworthy similarity in class II disease association was observed among southern African Caucasoid and their European parental populations. Unique HLA class II disease associations observed in southern Africa are consistent with the notion that unique environmental and natural selective factors have resulted in certain ethnic-specific HLA class II disease associations, while common HLA class II disease associations found across different populations support the notion that common diseases are caused by common, ancient alleles present in indigenous African populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park 2006, South Africa.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lombard
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Brune
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Hoal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Babb
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Van Helden
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Epplen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bornman
mesh_terms: D000353:Africa, Southern / Q000453:epidemiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D015810:Linkage Disequilibrium; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II