HLA-A, -B, -DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 polymorphism in Thais

In this study we examined HLA-A, -B, -DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 gene, allele, and haplotype frequencies in two ethnic Thai populations. We compared these frequencies to the known HLA class I and II allele profiles of non-Thai mainland and insular Southeast (SE) Asians. HLA-A locus gene and allele frequencies, are comparatively homogeneous in both Thai and non-Thai SE Asians. In contrast, HLA-B, -DRB1, -DQA1, and -DQB1 gene and allele frequencies, show more ethnic and geographic variation in SE Asians. Conserved haplotypes, or combinations of linked HLA class I and II alleles were detected in Thais, but at relatively low frequencies. It would appear that ethnic Thais, reflect an admixture of peoples from both the northern mainland and southern island groups of SE Asia. (C) American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, 1997.