ABSTRACT
HLA-A, B and C antigens were determined in 101 healthy subjects from two major and several minor ethnic groups in some parts of Southern Nigeria. Compared to earlier data based on a panel of expatriate Nigerians, significant differences were observed in antigen phenotype and gene frequencies particularly at the HLA-A locus. At least three antigenic specificities not previously observed in the expatriate Nigerians were detected in the present study. These included HLA-B8. B14 and CW1. These antigens however occurred at low frequencies. The antigens A23 and B7 were in positive linkage disequilibrium along with others which involved CW4 with B53 or B35. It is concluded from our findings that HLA polymorphisms in Nigerians may not be completely reflected in major population group studies alone. It is possible that more specificities may be detected by continued testing of the minor ethnic groups. The importance of this could be immense in disease association studies involving HLA genes as well as in anthropology.
