First report on HLA-DPB1 gene allelic distribution in the general Lebanese population.
OBJECTIVE
Interest in the importance of the HLA-DPB1 gene has increased lately, especially in transplantation outcomes in addition to other HLA CII molecules. This is the first study that assesses HLA-DPB1 typing among healthy Lebanese individuals.


METHODS
The HLA-DPB1 alleles were detected using the polymerase chain reaction/sequence-specific priming method and our study included 130 individuals. HLA-DPB1 was determined in different ethnic groups and in relation to various clinical entities.


RESULTS
We compared our data with the existing literature and found an interesting similarity between the Lebanese and Greek populations with highly specific alleles not reported in other communities.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study will form the basis for further research to study the correlation between HLA-DPB1 and various clinical entities as well as a primer study for other transplantation centers.
Shammaa
Dina
D
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Khansa
Sara
S
Zaatari
Ghazi
G
Mahfouz
Rami A R
RA
D000483:Alleles; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D006682:HLA-DP Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059868:HLA-DP beta-Chains; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D007861:Lebanon; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction
D006682:HLA-DP Antigens; D059868:HLA-DP beta-Chains; C071170:HLA-DPB1 antigen