High frequency of MIC null haplotype (HLA-B48-MICA-del-MICB*0107 N) in the Angaite Amerindian community in Paraguay

We describe a high frequency of the MIC null haplotype, HLA-B48-MICA-del-MICB*0107 N, in the Angaite Amerindian community in Paraguay. Of the 16 unrelated subjects, 9 (56.5%) had this haplotype. The structural analyses revealed this haplotype was similar to the previously reported Asian haplotype in that they had a large-scale deletion including the entire MICA gene and linked to MICB*0107 N and HLA-B*48. The novel recombination haplotype between this MIC null haplotype and HLA-B15, HLA-B15-MICA-del-MICB*0107 N, was also found in this community.