HLA-DR Antigens and HLA-B: DR Haplotypes in Koreans

ABSTRACT

HLA-DR antigen and gene frequencies were studied in 150 unrelated Koreans in Seoul. HLA-DR4 was the most common DR specificity encountered and HLA-DR1 and -DR3 occurred with the lowest frequencies. The frequency of HLA-DR blank allele was 27.1%. HLA-BDR haplotypes involving positive delta values differing significantly from zero were DR1B7, DR2Bw22, DR3B17, DR5Bw35, DRw6B17, DR7B12, DR7B13, and DRw8Bw16. The supertypic groups (MT1, MT2 and MT3) differ somewhat in frequencies from Other populations. These findings suggested that the Korean population, while having many similarities in HLA-DR antigen frequencies with those of neighboring Orientals, has not only different features in the distribution of HLA-DR antigens but also has unique HLA-BDR haplotypes.