Major histocompatibility complex class I and II antigens frequencies in Baloch ethnic group living in the southeast region of Iran

Abstract

Background: Human leukocyte antigens have become key components to investigate the genetic relationships between populations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of HLA class I and II alleles among the Baloch ethnic group of southeastern in comparison with the Parsi ethnic group, thereby establishing a database for further investigations on the ancestry and genetic factors contributing to complex diseases in this region.

Materials and methods: Thirty unrelated Balochi individuals from southeast Iran and 108 Parsi unrelated individuals were serologically typed using standard microcytotoxicity assays with commercial and local trays.

Results: The most frequent class I alleles of the Baloch ethnic group were HLA-A01 (53.3%), -A02 (30%), -A09 (23.3%), -A11 (20%), -A23 (23.3%), -B05 (53.3%), and -B08 (26.7%). The class II alleles more frequently observed were HLA-DR1 (26.7%), -DR2 (43.3%), -DR3 (20%), -DR4 (33.3%), -DR7 (26.7%), -DR11 (33.7%), -DRw52 (83.3%), -DRw53 (36.7%), -DQ1 (46.7%), -DQ2 (20%), and -DQ3 (40%). In contrast with the Parsi ethnic group, the frequencies for the following alleles were significantly higher in Baloch than Parsi. HLA-A01, -A23, -A25, -B05, -B08, -B16, -B17, -B60, -DR14, -DQ4, and -DQ7. In contrast, the frequencies of HLA-Cw4 and -DQ3 alleles in the Parsi were significantly higher than the Baloch ethnic group.

Conclusions: This first study of HLA in widely dispersed areas of Iran represents an important resource for investigators in the fields of transplantation immunology and population genetics.