Human leukocyte antigen profile of two ethnic groups in Southeast of Iran.

This study was performed to determine the genetic diversity of HLA class I and II alleles among two ethnic groups in Southeastern Iran. HLA profiles were determined in 71 Iranian populations (41 Zaboli and 30 Baloch). The frequencies of HLA-A02 (p=0.017), -Cw4 (p=0.003), and -DR8 (p=0.025) in the Zaboli populations were significantly higher than that in Baloch ethnic group. In contrast, the frequency of HLA-A23 allele was more frequent in Baloch than Zaboli (p=0.020). This report represents an important resource for investigators in the fields of transplantation immunology and population genetics from widely dispersed areas of Iran.

Human leukocyte antigen profile in the Zaboli ethnic group living in the South-East region of Iran.

The human leukocyte antigen has become a key component in investigating the genetic relationships between populations. The aim of this study was to determine the genetic diversity of HLA class I and II alleles among Zaboli ethnic group of South-east Iran to establish a database for further investigations on ancestry and the genetic factors contributing to complex diseases in this region.Unrelated individuals from the Southeast geographic location throughout Iran were serologically typed using standard microcytotoxicity assays with commercial and local trays. The ethnic background of each individual was self-defined. HLA profiles were determined in 41 Zaboli populations. The most frequent class I alleles of the Zaboli ethnic group being the following: HLA-A1 (34.1%), -A2 (58.5%), -A11 (29.3%), -A24 (23.9%), -B5 (70.7%), -B16 (26.8%), and -Cw4 (24.4%). The class II alleles more frequently observed in this group were HLA-DR1 (26.8%), -DR2 (26.8%), -DR3 (31.7%), -DR4 (29.3%), -DR7 (24.4%), -DR8 (22%), -DR11 (48.8%), -DRw52 (73.2%), -DRw53 (53.7%), -DQ1 (53.7%), -DQ2 (31.7%), and -DQ3 (29.3%). This report utilized a first study of HLA class I and II typed individuals, from widely dispersed areas of Iran. This will help in studies related to disease associations and cadaver organ allocation programmes.