title: Human leukocyte antigen-DRB1 class II genes in Mexican Amerindian Mazahuas: genes and languages do not correlate.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The major histocompatibility complex genes are located on the short arm of the human sixth chromosome; they are highly polymorphic and therefore have been very advantageous in population genetic studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A Mazahua group established in North Mexico State and also in nearby Michoacan state in the rainy mountain highlands (Mexico) was studied for their human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 alleles. The relationship with other Amerindians and worldwide populations was studied by using 14,996 chromosomes from 75 different populations and calculating neighbor-joining dendrograms and correspondence multidimensional values.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five principal HLA allele frequencies were found in our group: DRB1*0802 (the most frequent one in this population), DRB1*0407, DRB1*0403, DRB1*0101, and DRB1*1406. Both genetic distances and correspondence analyses clearly show that our Mazahua group is genetically close to some of the most ancient groups living in Mexico (Mayos, Zapotecans, Tennek) and South American Amerindians. Amerindians remain as a group apart from the rest of the world.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results analyzing the HLA-DR locus suggest that Mazahua language (Otomangue) does not correlate with those of the most closely HLA-correlated ethnic groups. The present data may be useful for future transplantation programs, HLA and disease diagnosis, and pharmacogenetic studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, University Complutense, The Madrid Regional Blood Center, Madrid, Spain. aarnaiz@med.ucm.es
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arnaiz-Villena
authors.forename: Sedeka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abd-El-Fatah
authors.forename: María Angeles
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Granados-Silvestre
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Parga-Lozano
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gómez-Prieto
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rey
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Areces
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Peñaranda
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menjívar
authors.forename: José Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Pérez
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Granados
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vargas-Alarcón
mesh_terms: D005802:Genes, MHC Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D044382:Population Groups / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens