title: HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 allele distribution in a large Armenian population sample.
abstract: Human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 gene frequencies were investigated in 4279 unrelated Armenian bone marrow donors. HLA alleles were defined by using PCR amplification with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) high- and low-resolution kits. The aim of this study was to examine the HLA diversity at the high-resolution level in a large Armenian population sample, and to compare HLA allele group distribution in Armenian subpopulations. The most frequently observed alleles in the HLA class I were HLA-A*0201, A*0101, A*2402, A*0301, HLA-B*5101, HLA-B*3501, and B*4901. Among DRB1 alleles, high frequencies of DRB1*1104 and DRB1*1501 were observed, followed by DRB1*1101 and DRB1*1401. The most common three-locus haplotype found in the Armenian population was A*33-B*14-DRB1*01, followed by A*03-B*35-DRB1*01. Our results show a similar distribution of alleles in Armenian subpopulations from different countries, and from different regions of the Republics of Armenia and Karabagh. The low level of genetic distances between subpopulations indicates a high level of population homogeneity, and the genetic distances between Armenians and other populations show Armenians as a distinct ethnic group relative to others, reflecting the fact that Armenians have been an 'isolated population' throughout centuries. This study is the first comprehensive investigation of HLA-allele group distribution in a subset of Armenian populations, and the first to provide HLA-allele and haplotype frequencies at a high-resolution level. It is a valuable reference for organ transplantation and for future studies of HLA-associated diseases in Armenian populations.
authors.affiliation: Armenian Bone Marrow Donors Registry, Yerevan, Republic of Armenia.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Matevosyan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chattopadhyay
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Madelian
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Avagyan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nazaretyan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hyussian
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vardapetyan
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arutunyan
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jordan
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D001136:Armenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D005838:Genotype; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D044382:Population Groups / Q000235:genetics; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains