HLA Class I and Class II Alleles and Haplotypes Confirm the Berber Origin of the Present Day Tunisian Population

In view of its distinct geographical location and relatively small area, Tunisia witnessed the presence of many civilizations and ethnic groups throughout history, thereby questioning the origin of present-day Tunisian population. We investigated HLA class I and class II gene profiles in Tunisians, and compared this profile with those of Mediterranean and Sub-Sahara African populations. A total of 376 unrelated Tunisian individuals of both genders were genotyped for HLA class I (A, B) and class II (DRB1, DQB1), using reverse dot-blot hybridization (PCR-SSO) method. Statistical analysis was performed using Arlequin software. Phylogenetic trees were constructed by DISPAN software, and correspondence analysis was carried out by VISTA software. One hundred fifty-three HLA alleles were identified in the studied sample, which comprised 41, 50, 40 and 22 alleles at HLA-A,-B,-DRB1 and -DQB1 loci, respectively. The most frequent alleles were HLA-A*02:01 (16.76%), HLA-B*44:02/03 (17.82%), HLA-DRB1*07:01 (19.02%), and HLA-DQB1*03:01 (17.95%). Four-locus haplotype analysis identified HLA-A*02:01-B*50:01-DRB1*07:01-DQB1*02:02 (2.2%) as the common haplotype in Tunisians. Compared to other nearby populations, Tunisians appear to be genetically related to Western Mediterranean population, in particular North Africans and Berbers. In conclusion, HLA genotype results indicate that Tunisians are related to present-day North Africans, Berbers and to Iberians, but not to Eastern Arabs (Palestinians, Jordanians and Lebanese). This suggests that the genetic contribution of Arab invasion of 7^th-11^th century A.D. had little impact of the North African gene pool.     

HLA Class I-Mediated Control of HIV-1 in the Japanese Population, in Which the Protective HLA-B*57 and HLA-B*27 Alleles Are Absent

We investigated the effect of HLA class I alleles on clinical parameters for HIV-1 disease progression in the Japanese population, where two strongly protective alleles, HLA-B*57 and HLA-B*27, are virtually nonexistent. HLA-B alleles showed a dominant role, primarily through HLA-B*67:01 and the HLA-B*52:01-C*12:02 haplotype. Neither a rare-allele nor a heterozygote advantage was found, suggesting that the effect of HLA alleles in the Japanese population is either different from those observed in Africans and Caucasians or undetectable due to limited power.     

Differential susceptibilities to chronic beryllium disease contributed by different Glu69 HLA-DPB1 and -DPA1 alleles.

Chronic beryllium disease (CBD) is associated with the allelic substitution of a Glu69 in the HLA-DPB1 gene. Although up to 97% of CBD patients may have the Glu69 marker, about 30-45% of beryllium-exposed, unaffected individuals carry the same marker. Because CBD occurs in only 1-6% of exposed workers, the presence of Glu69 does not appear to be the sole genetic factor underlying the disease development. Using two rounds of direct automated DNA sequencing to precisely assign HLA-DPB1 haplotypes, we have discovered highly significant Glu69-containing allele frequency differences between the CBD patients and a beryllium-exposed, nondiseased control group. Individuals with DPB1 Glu69 in both alleles were almost exclusively found in the CBD group (6/20) vs the control group (1/75). Whereas most Glu69 carriers from the control group had a DPB1 allele *0201 (68%), most Glu69 carriers from the CBD group had a non-*0201 DPB1 Glu69-carrying allele (84%). The DPB1 allele *0201 was almost exclusively (29/30) associated with DPA1 *01 alleles, while the non-*0201 Glu69-containing DPB1 alleles were closely associated with DPA1 *02 alleles (26/29). Relatively rare Glu69-containing alleles *1701, *0901, and *1001 had extremely high frequencies in the CBD group (50%), as compared with the control group (6.7%). Therefore, the most common Glu69-containing DPB1 allele, *0201, does not seem to be a major disease allele. The results suggest that it is not the mere presence of Glu69, per se, but specific Glu69-containing alleles and their copy number (homozygous or heterozygous) that confer the greatest susceptibility to CBD in exposed individuals.     

Identification and characterisation of novel polymorphisms in the CYP2A locus: implications for nicotine metabolism.

The polymorphic human cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6) metabolises a number of drugs, activates a variety of precarcinogens and constitutes the major nicotine C-oxidase. A relationship between CYP2A6 genotype and smoking habits, as well as incidence of lung cancer, has been proposed. Two defective alleles have hitherto been identified, one of which is very common in Asian populations. Among Caucasians, an additional defective and frequently distributed allele (CYP2A6*3) has been suggested to play a protective role against nicotine addiction and cigarette consumption. Here, we have re-evaluated the genotyping method used for the CYP2A6*3 allele and found that a gene conversion in the 3' flanking region of 30-40% of CYP2A6*1 alleles results in genotype misclassification. In fact, no true CYP2A6*3 alleles were found among 100 Spaniards and 96 Chinese subjects. In one Spanish poor metaboliser of the CYP2A6 probe drug coumarin, we found two novel defective alleles. One, CYP2A6*5, encoded an unstable enzyme having a G479L substitution and the other was found to carry a novel type of CYP2A6 gene deletion (CYP2A6*4D). The results imply the presence of numerous defective as well as active CYP2A6 alleles as a consequence of CYP2A6/CYP2A7 gene conversion events. We conclude that molecular epidemiological studies concerning CYP2A6 require validated genotyping methods for accurate detection of all known defective CYP2A6 alleles.     

Association of HLA-DPB1 with Scleroderma and Its Clinical Features in Chinese Population

Human leukocyte antigen DPB1 was reported to contain singly nucleotide polymorphisms conferring the strongest susceptibility to systemic sclerosis in Korean population. However, associations of specific DPB1 alleles with SSc vary in different ethnic populations. The aim of this study was to profile DPB1 alleles in Chinese population and to identify specific DPB1 alleles in association with SSc and clinical and serological features of SSc in Han Chinese. A cohort containing 338 patients with SSc and 480 gender-matched and unrelated controls were examined in the study. The HLA-DPB1 genotyping was performed with sequence-based typing method. Exact p-values were obtained (Fisher''s test) from 2×2 tables of allele counts or allele carriers and disease status. Thirty eight DPB1 alleles were found in the cohort. DPB1*05:01 was the most common allele in this cohort. DPB1*03:01 and *13:01 were significantly increased in SSc. DPB1*13:01 association had already been described in other ethnic populations, whereas DPB1*03:01 was specific to Han Chinese patients with SSc. In addition, comparisons between SSc subsets indicated that patients carrying DPB1*03:01 were more likely to develop pulmonary fibrosis, DPB1*04 carriers were increased in SSc patients with anti-centromere autoantibodies and in contrast, SSc patients with homozygous DPB1*05:01 showed an opposite association with marginal significance.     

The reported germline repertoire of human immunoglobulin kappa chain genes is relatively complete and accurate

We describe a bioinformatic analysis of germline and rearranged immunoglobulin kappa chain (IGK) gene sequences, performed in order to assess the completeness and reliability of the reported IGK repertoire. In contrast to the reported heavy-chain gene repertoire, which includes many dubious sequences, only five IGK variable gene (IGKV) alleles appear to have been reported in error. There was, however, insufficient evidence to justify removing these IGKV genes from the germline repertoire. Bioinformatic analysis of apparent mismatches between reported germline genes and 1,863 expressed IGK sequences suggested the existence of two unreported IGKV polymorphisms. Genomic screening of 12 individuals led to the confirmation of both of these polymorphisms, IGKV1-16*02 and IGKV2-30*02. We also show that in contrast to the heavy chain, the IGK repertoire is dominated by sequences that use just a handful of kappa variable (IGKV) and junction (IGKJ) gene pairs. There is also little modification of IGKV and IGKJ genes by the processes of exonuclease removal and N nucleotide addition. The expressed IGK repertoire therefore lacks diversity and the junction region is particularly constrained. Remarkably, the analysis of a dataset of 435 relatively unmutated rearranged kappa genes showed that ten amino acid sequences account for almost 10% of the rearrangements, with identical sequences being derived from as many as seven independent sources. Such dominant sequences are likely to have important roles in the operation of the humoral immune response.     

Polymorphisms of HLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 in Inhabitants of Astana,the Capital City of Kazakhstan

Background

Kazakhstan has been inhabited by different populations, such as the Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Uzbek and others. Here we investigate allelic and haplotypic polymorphisms of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes at DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 loci in the Kazakh ethnic group, and their genetic relationship between world populations.

Methodology/Principal Findings

A total of 157 unrelated Kazakh ethnic individuals from Astana were genotyped using sequence based typing (SBT-Method) for HLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 loci. Allele frequencies, neighbor-joining method, and multidimensional scaling analysis have been obtained for comparison with other world populations. Statistical analyses were performed using Arlequin v3.11. Applying the software PAST v. 2.17 the resulting genetic distance matrix was used for a multidimensional scaling analysis (MDS). Respectively 37, 17 and 19 alleles were observed at HLA-DRB1, -DQA1 and -DQB1 loci. The most frequent alleles were HLA-DRB1*07:01 (13.1%), HLA-DQA1*03:01 (13.1%) and HLA-DQB1*03:01 (17.6%). In the observed group of Kazakhs DRB1*07:01-DQA1*02:01-DQB1*02:01 (8.0%) was the most common three loci haplotype. DRB1*10:01-DQB1*05:01 showed the strongest linkage disequilibrium. The Kazakh population shows genetic kinship with the Kazakhs from China, Uyghurs, Mongolians, Todzhinians, Tuvinians and as well as with other Siberians and Asians.

Conclusions/Significance

The HLA-DRB1, -DQA1and -DQB1 loci are highly polymorphic in the Kazakh population, and this population has the closest relationship with other Asian and Siberian populations.     

Peptide-binding motifs associated with MHC molecules common in Chinese rhesus macaques are analogous to those of human HLA supertypes and include HLA-B27-like alleles

Chinese rhesus macaques are of particular interest in simian immunodeficiency virus/human immunodeficiency virus (SIV/HIV) research as these animals have prolonged kinetics of disease progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), compared to their Indian counterparts, suggesting that they may be a better model for HIV. Nevertheless, the specific mechanism(s) accounting for these kinetics remains unclear. The study of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, including their MHC/peptide-binding motifs, provides valuable information for measuring cellular immune responses and deciphering outcomes of infection and vaccine efficacy. In this study, we have provided detailed characterization of six prevalent Chinese rhesus macaque MHC class I alleles, yielding a combined phenotypic frequency of 29 %. The peptide-binding specificity of two of these alleles, Mamu-A2*01:02 and Mamu-B*010:01, as well as the previously characterized allele Mamu-B*003:01 (and Indian rhesus Mamu-B*003:01), was found to be analogous to that of alleles in the HLA-B27 supertype family. Specific alleles in the HLA-B27 supertype family, including HLA-B*27:05, have been associated with long-term nonprogression to AIDS in humans. All six alleles characterized in the present study were found to have specificities analogous to HLA supertype alleles. These data contribute to the concept that Chinese rhesus macaque MHC immunogenetics is more similar to HLA than their Indian rhesus macaque counterparts and thereby warrants further studies to decipher the role of these alleles in the context of SIV infection.     

Association of the HLA-DRB1 with Scleroderma in Chinese Population

Multiple alleles of the Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DRB1 have been strongly associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and its clinical or serological subsets. However, the associations vary in different ethnic populations. To define SSc-risk and/or -protective alleles of HLA-DRB1 in Chinese population, we studied a Han Chinese cohort containing 585 patients with SSc and 458 gender-matched, unrelated controls. The HLA-DRB1 genotyping was performed with sequence-based typing method. Exact p-values were obtained (Fisher’s test) from 2×2 tables of allele frequency and disease status. The major SSc-risk allele subtypes of HLA-DRB1 are the DRB1*15∶02 and *16∶02 in this Chinese cohort. Particularly, DRB1*15∶02 was most significantly associated with anti-centromere autoantibodies (ACA) positive, and DRB1*16∶02 with anti-topoisomerase I autoantibodies (ATA) positive patients. On the other hand, DRB1*01∶01 and *04∶06 were strong SSc-protective alleles in Chinese, especially in patients who were ACA positive and had diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc), respectively. In addition, DRB1*11 and *07∶01 also showed significant association with SSc as a risk for and protection from SSc, respectively, and which is consistent with the studies of Spanish, US Caucasian and Hispanic populations. DRB1*15 was associated with ATA positive Chinese SSc that is consistent with Black South African and Korean SSc. These findings of HLA-DRB1 alleles in association with Chinese SSc provide the growing knowledge of genetics of SSc, and indicate that the genetic heterogeneity among ethnicities may significantly impact the complex trait of SSc.     

HLA class I,KIR, and genome-wide SNP diversity in the RV144 Thai phase 3 HIV vaccine clinical trial

RV144 is the first phase 3 HIV vaccine clinical trial to demonstrate efficacy. This study consisted of more than 8,000 individuals in each arm of the trial, representing the four major regions of Thailand. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) genes, as well as 96 genome-wide ancestry informative markers (AIMs) were genotyped in 450 placebo HIV-1-uninfected individuals to identify the immunogenetic diversity and population structure of this cohort. High-resolution genotyping identified the common HLA alleles as A*02:03, A*02:07, A*11:01, A*24:02, A*24:07, A*33:03, B*13:01, B*15:02, B*18:01, B*40:01, B*44:03, B*46:01, B*58:01, C*01:02, C*03:02, C*03:04, C*07:01, C*07:02, C*07:04, and C*08:01. The most frequent three-loci haplotype was B*46:01-C*01:02-A*02:07. Framework genes KIR2DL4, 3DL2, and 3DL3 were present in all samples, and KIR2DL1, 2DL3, 3DL1, 2DS4, and 2DP1 occurred at frequencies greater than 90 %. The combined HLA and KIR profile suggests admixture with neighboring Asian populations. Principal component and correspondence analyses comparing the RV144 samples to the phase 3 International HapMap Project (HapMap3) populations using AIMs corroborated these findings. Structure analyses identified a distinct profile in the Thai population that did not match the Asian or other HapMap3 samples. This shows genetic variability unique to Thais in RV144, making it essential to take into account population stratification while performing genetic association studies. The overall analyses from all three genetic markers indicate that the RV144 samples are representative of the Thai population. This will inform subsequent host genetic analyses in the RV144 cohort and provide insight for future genetic association studies in the Thai population.     

Ethnic differences in the frequency of prostate cancer susceptibility alleles at SRD5A2 and CYP3A4

OBJECTIVES: Ethnic differences in prostate cancer incidence are well documented, with African-Americans having among the highest rates in the world. Ethnic differences in genotypes for genes associated with androgen metabolism including SRD5A2 and CYP3A4 also may exist. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in these genotypes by ethnicity. METHODS: We studied cancer-free controls representative of four groups: 147 African Americans, 410 Caucasian-Americans, 129 Ghanaians, and 178 Senegalese. PCR-based genotype analysis was undertaken to identify two alleles (V89L, A49T) at SRD5A2 and *1B allele at CYP3A4. RESULTS: Differences were observed for V89L (variant frequency of 30% in Caucasians, 27% in African Americans, 19% in Ghanaians, and 18% in Senegalese, p = 0.002) and were observed for CYP3A4*1B (variant frequencies of 8% in Caucasians, 59% in African Americans, 81% in Ghanaians, and 78% in Senegalese, p = 0.0001). Pooled data combining the present data and previously published data from from Asian, Hispanic, and Arab cancer-free controls showed significant ethnic differences for SRD5A2 and CYP3A4 polymorphisms. Overall, Asians were least likely to have alleles associated with increased prostate cancer risk, while Africans were most likely to have those alleles. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that ethnicity-specific differences in genotype frequencies exist for SRD5A2 and CYP3A4. Africans and African-Americans have the highest frequency of those alleles that have previously been associated with increased prostate cancer risk. Future studies should address whether allele frequency differences in part explain differences in prostate cancer incidence in these populations.     

Allele and haplotype frequencies of human leukocyte antigen-A, -B, -C,-DRB1, and -DQB1 in Chinese patients with hematological diseases

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system plays a central role in the immune response to pathogens, as well as in organ and allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Finding a five-locus (i.e., HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1) matched unrelated donor for a patient awaiting HSCT is a major clinical challenge, due to the lack of HLA-identical sibling donors and the high polymorphism of HLA. To date, most studies providing HLA allele frequencies (AF) and haplotype frequencies (HF) in Chinese populations have focused on donors instead of the recipients and have provided data for three loci (HLA-A, -B, and -DR); however, data from five-locus HLA typing in a large sample of patients, especially those with hematological diseases, remains unavailable. Therefore, this study was designed to determine HLA AF and two-, three-, four- and five-locus HF in a large cohort of Chinese Han patients with hematological diseases. The AF and the HF were determined using high-resolution HLA typing data from 2,878 patients. The total number of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1 alleles was determined to be 48, 92, 49, 52, and 24, respectively. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) analyses indicated significant deviations from HWE for HLA-A, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1 AF, but not for HLA-B locus. The three most common alleles at each locus were A*11:01, A*24:02, A*02:01; B*46:01, B*40:01, B*13:02; C*01:02, C*07:02, C*06:02; DRB1*09:01, DRB1*15:01, DRB1*07:01; DQB1*03:01, DQB1*03:03, and DQB1*06:01. Our data may help to determine whether the current bone marrow registry contains sufficient diversity to meet the demand.     

HIV-1 Receptor Binding Site-Directed Antibodies Using a VH1-2 Gene Segment Orthologue Are Activated by Env Trimer Immunization

Broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) isolated from chronically HIV-1 infected individuals reveal important information regarding how antibodies target conserved determinants of the envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike such as the primary receptor CD4 binding site (CD4bs). Many CD4bs-directed bNAbs use the same heavy (H) chain variable (V) gene segment, VH1-2*02, suggesting that activation of B cells expressing this allele is linked to the generation of this type of Ab. Here, we identify the rhesus macaque VH1.23 gene segment to be the closest macaque orthologue to the human VH1-2 gene segment, with 92% homology to VH1-2*02. Of the three amino acids in the VH1-2*02 gene segment that define a motif for VRC01-like antibodies (W50, N58, flanking the HCDR2 region, and R71), the two identified macaque VH1.23 alleles described here encode two. We demonstrate that immunization with soluble Env trimers induced CD4bs-specific VH1.23-using Abs with restricted neutralization breadth. Through alanine scanning and structural studies of one such monoclonal Ab (MAb), GE356, we demonstrate that all three HCDRs are involved in neutralization. This contrasts to the highly potent CD4bs-directed VRC01 class of bNAb, which bind Env predominantly through the HCDR2. Also unlike VRC01, GE356 was minimally modified by somatic hypermutation, its light (L) chain CDRs were of average lengths and it displayed a binding footprint proximal to the trimer axis. These results illustrate that the Env trimer immunogen used here activates B cells encoding a VH1-2 gene segment orthologue, but that the resulting Abs interact distinctly differently with the HIV-1 Env spike compared to VRC01.     

The polymorphisms of HLA class Ⅰ and Ⅱalleles were not associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome among recovered patients in Beijing: a case-control study

Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which emerged as a pandemic in 2003. The mechanism of the immune reaction initiated by SARS-CoV still remains unclear. Here we aimed to describe the genetic patterns of high-resolution HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1, loci in recovered SARS patients from Beijing and examine the association between HLA genes and susceptibility or resistance to SARS. A total of 70 recovered Chinese Han SARS patients were recruited to donate convalescent plasma in 2003. HLA high-resolution typing was carried out using sequence based typing (SBT). Allele frequencies were calculated by direct counting, and were compared with the frequencies of HLA alleles of donors recruited by the China Marrow Donor Program between 2002 and 2015 using Fisher''s exact test. Significance of association was defined according to the Bonferroni method for multiple comparisons. We observed 20, 35, 21, 25, and 17 alleles respectively at HLA-A, -B, -C, -DRB1, and -DQB1 loci among the 70 recovered patients. We identified 12 alleles (HLA-A*02:10, -A*02:93, -A*03:02, -B*08:01, -B*15:152, -B*37:01, -DRB1*10:01, -DRB1*11:03, -DRB1*14:10, -DRB1*14:12, -DRB1*15:02, and -DQB1*05:10) showing a nominal association with SARS (P<0.05), but none remained significant after Bonferroni correction. The study suggests that high-resolution HLA alleles are unlikely to contribute significantly to the susceptibility or resistance to SARS-CoV infection in the northern Chinese population.     

Genotypes of vitamin-D-binding protein (DBP) in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and healthy population of Republic Bashkortostan

The distribution of alleles and genotypes of vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) gene has been studied in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD, n = 298) and healthy individuals (n = 237) from two ethnic groups (Tatars and Russians) living in Republic Bashkortostan. Statistically significant differences in the distribution of DBP gene genotypes between Tatars and Russians (chi2 = 8.854, df = 5, P = 0.04) were revealed. The pattern of allele's distribution within DBP gene was similar in healthy control subjects of both ethnic groups, with gradient reduction in row GC*1S> GC*1F> GC*2. The most common genotypes were: GC*1F/1S in Tatars (36.79%) and GC*1S/2 in Russians (34.62%). It has been shown, that Tatars with genotype GC*1F/1S have a lower risk of COPD development: the frequency of GC*1F/1S genotype in COPD patients was significantly lower than in healthy individuals (19.85% versus 36.79%; chi2 = 7.622, P = 0.0067, Pcor = 0.0335; OR = 0.42 CI 95% 0.22-0.79). At the same time, COPD patients from the same group had higher frequency of GC* 1F/2 genotype than healthy individuals (19.08% versus 8.49%; chi2 = 4.52, P = 0.033, Pcor = 0.165; OR = 2.54 CI 95% 1.067-6.20). In Russian population the distribution of alleles and genotypes of DBP gene were similar in COPD patients and healthy individuals.     

The frequency and distribution of thiopurine S-methyltransferase alleles in south Iranian population

Thiopurine methyltransferase (TPMT) catalyzes the S-methylation of thiopurine drugs such as 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, and azathiopurine. Variability in TPMT activity is mainly due to genetic polymorphism. The frequency of the four allelic variants of the TPMT gene, TPMT*2 (G238C), TPMT*3A (G460A and A719G), TPMT*3B (G460A) and TPMT*3C (A719G) were determined in an Iranian population from south of Iran (n = 500), using polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-RFLP and allele-specific PCR-based assays. Four hundred seventy four persons (94.8%) were homozygous for the wild type allele (TPMT*1/*1) and twenty five people were TPMT*1/*3C (5%). One patient was found to be heterozygous in terms TPMT*1 and *2 alleles with genotype of TPMT*1/*2 (0.2%). None of the participants had both defective alleles. The TPMT*3C and *2 were the only variant alleles observed in this population. The total frequency of variant alleles was 2.6% and the wild type allele frequency was 97.4%. The TPMT*3B and *3A alleles were not detected. Distributions of TPMT genotype and allele frequency in Iranian populations are different from the genetic profile found among Caucasian or Asian populations. Our findings also revealed inter-ethnic differences in TPMT frequencies between different parts of Iran. This view may help clinicians to choose an appropriate strategy for thiopurine drugs and reduce adverse drug reactions such as bone marrow suppression.     

HLA Class I and Class II Associations with ESRD in Saudi Arabian Population

Background

Chronic renal failure (CRF) leads in the majority of instances to end stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring renal replacement therapy. Our interest was to evaluate the possible associations of HLA class I and class II antigens with ESRD independent of other factors, in Saudi Arabia population.

Methodology

A retrospective study to determine the HLA class I and class II polymorphisms and their association with ESRD, was performed on 350 patients with ESRD, and 105 healthy unrelated control. Patients and control groups were typed by SSOP lumenix techniques. The alleles positively associated to the ESRD were: HLA-B*15, B*18, B*49 - DRB1*03, negatively associated alleles were A*26, HLA-B*39, B*50. The haplotypes positively associated with ESRD were: HLA-A*01-DRB1*13 and HLA-A*30-DRBI*03. The negatively associated haplotypes were: HLA-A*02-B*39, A*02-B*50, A*24-B*35, A*24-B*58, A*24-DRB1*16, A*68-DRB1*04, A*02-DQB1*03, A*29-DQB1*02, A*29-DOB1*05 and B*27-DRB1*07 and the last one is the most significant protective haplotypes.

Conclusion

The high Relative Risk (RR) observed and its statistical correlation reflect the strength of the described association between HLA antigens and ESRD.     

应用SSP-PCR/SSO方法进行中国辽宁汉族人HLA-DRB1基因的遗传多态性研究

对１５９名中国辽宁汉族个体的基因组ＤＮＡ进行分析,共检出４２种等位基因,其中以ＤＲＢ１０９０１２（１２．８％）、０７０１（１０．７％）、１５０１（１０．４％）最为常见,其次为ＤＲＢ１１２０１（７９％）、１２０２（７５％）、１１０１（６６％）、０３０１（５．０％）。并发现辽宁汉族人ＤＲＢ１等位基因频率与白种人间存在明显差异,揭示不同人种有其自己的主要等位基因。同时对本技术在ＨＬＡ－ＤＲＢ１分型应用中的优点进行了讨论     

GST, CYP and PON1 polymorphisms in farmers attributing ill health to organophosphate-containing sheep dip

Previously we reported that in sheep dippers exposed to organophosphates the frequency of paraoxonase (PON1) polymorphisms differed between those with or without self-reported ill health. We have now examined whether polymorphisms in other genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism alter disease risk in this population. There were elevated but non-significant risks associated with the CYP2D6 WT genotype (odds ratio (OR) 1.47, 95% CI 0.83-2.60), or a GSTP1*B or *C allele (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.88-2.01) or being GSTM1*2/GSTT1*2 homozygous (OR 1.61, 95% CI 0.74-3.48). Similar results were generally obtained after the exclusion of subjects to obtain a more homogenous case-referent population: for double null GSTM1 and GSTT1 homozygotes the OR was 2.06 (95% CI 0.85-2.04). In those also likely to have been exposed to diazinon, risks associated with a GSTP1*B or *C allele (OR 1.82, 95% CI 0.92-3.63) or a GSTM1*2/GSTT1*2 homozygous (OR 2.60, 95% CI 0.72-10.42) were elevated but not to a significant extent. Risk associated with PON1 genotype and phenotype varied with CYP2D6 and GSTP1 genotype but not consistently with a priori hypotheses. Further work is necessary to delineate more clearly pathways of organophosphate activation and non-PON1 pathways of detoxification and to confirm whether CYP and GST polymorphisms alter disease risk in populations exposed to organophosphates.