title: Analysis of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR, -DQ polymorphisms in the South Tunisian population and a comparison with other populations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Human Leucocyte Antigen (HLA) system is often used as a genetic marker for analysing populations. HLA antigen distribution among the Tunisian population is not well defined because of the lack of a general population study.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate the polymorphism of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR and -DQ loci in the South Tunisian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study has investigated HLA-A, -B, -C, -DR and -DQ polymorphisms in 123 unrelated healthy individuals originating from the south of Tunisia. HLA class I was studied by serology and completed by polymerase chain reaction-sequence specific primer (PCR-SSP). HLA class II was performed using PCR-SSP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common alleles were A-2 (0.2154), B-44 (0.1179), C7 (0.2114), DR4 (0.1626) and DQ2 (0.313). A1-B-8-C7-DR3-DQ2 (2.84%) was the predominant haplotype in this population. Comparisons with data of other worldwide populations based on phylogenetic tree and multidimensional scaling analysis were done. This study suggests that both HLA class I and class II polymorphism specificities demonstrate a high diversity in this South Tunisian population, which reflects ancient and recent admixture with neighbouring populations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results provide useful information for further studies of Tunisian population evolution, anthropology and for resolving HLA frequencies when searching for HLA-compatible donors in transplantation and for the analysis of disease associations.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Department, Hospital Hedi, Chaker, Sfax, Tunisia. lahiani@voila.fr
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahfoudh
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ayadi
authors.forename: Arwa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamoun
authors.forename: Radhia
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ammar
authors.forename: Bakhta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mallek
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maalej
authors.forename: Faiza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hakim
authors.forename: Lilia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gaddour
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rebai
authors.forename: Hafedh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makni
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D005802:Genes, MHC Class II; D015234:HLA-A Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015235:HLA-B Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D014416:Tunisia; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015234:HLA-A Antigens; D015235:HLA-B Antigens; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; D006683:HLA-DQ Antigens; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens