Increased CD1D polymorphism: identification of two novel alleles, CD1D*03 and *04, in individuals from Morocco.

Two novel CD1D alleles were identified in unrelated individuals from Morocco. They differ each from the common CD1D*01 allele by one nucleotide substitution in exon 2 resulting in one amino acid change in the G-ALPHA1-LIKE domain. According to the IMGT unique numbering for G domain, CD1D*03 has one nucleotide transition c136 > t in codon 46, with an arginine-to-cysteine amino acid change (R46 > C) in the D-STRAND, whereas CD1D*04 has one transition c98 > t in codon 33, with a threonine-to-methionine amino acid change (T33 > M) in the C-STRAND. This suggests that CD1D is more polymorphic than previously assumed.

Correlation between genetic HLA class I and II polymorphisms and anthropological aspects in the Chaouya population from Morocco (Arabic speaking).

The aim of this study was to provide genetic and anthropological information on the Chaouya (CH), an Arabic-speaking population living in West Morocco, Atlantic coast (Settat). In 98 unrelated healthy CH volunteers, we first investigated the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I and II allele polymorphisms using a sequence-based typing method and examined haplotypes and relatedness of this group to other African and Mediterranean populations. The study showed the close relatedness with Tunisian population and other North Africans, together with a strong influence of various immigrations, mainly Spaniards, French, and Portuguese, as expected. Nevertheless, analysis of class II allele frequencies (afs) showed that Oromo and Amhara Ethiopian groups cluster together with the Berbers and other North Africans, confirming the relationship between these populations (Afro-Asiatic linguistic group, Hamites). South and sub-Saharan Africans cluster separately at a great distance from CH, except the sub-Saharan Bantu population from Congo Kinshasa, which shows a relatively close genetic relationship ascribable to the effect of a diversifying selection. On the other hand, considering HLA class I afs analyses, it was noteworthy that CH grouped together with sub-Saharans, showing a close genetic distance mainly with Ugandas and Kenians Luo.

Sequence-based typing characterization of the novel HLA-Cw*1609 allele in the Moroccan Chaouya group.

The novel human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-Cw*1609 allele was identified by sequence-based typing in a Moroccan Chaouya donor. It differs from the closest Cw*1602 by only one nucleotide (C --> G) at position 244 in exon 2 (Glu to Gln at codon 58 in alpha1 domain).

Human leukocyte antigen-A, -B, and -Cw polymorphism in a Berber population from North Morocco using sequence-based typing.

Class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA) polymorphism was examined in a Berber population from North Morocco, named Metalsa (ME). All data were obtained at high-resolution level, using sequence-based typing. The most frequent alleles were: HLA-A*0201 and A*0101; HLA-B*44 (B*4403 and B*4402); B*0801 and the B*50 allele group (B*5001 and B*5002); HLA-Cw*0602; and Cw*07 group (Cw*070101, Cw*070102, Cw*0702, Cw*0704, and Cw*0706), and Cw*040101. The novel HLA-B*570302 allele was identified. It differs at position 486 and position 855 from B*570301, resulting in synonymous Thr and Val. The analysis also evidenced some alleles common in Africans (A*3402, A*6802, A*7401, B*1503, B*4102, B*4202, B*7801, B*5802, Cw*1701, and Cw*1703) and some uncommon alleles (A*3004, B*2702, B*2703, B*5001,02, B*3503, and Cw*0706). The predominant HLA-A-Cw-B-DRB1-extended haplotypes in ME population were A*0101-Cw*0501-B*4402-DRB1*0402, A*240201-Cw*0701-B*0801-DRB1*030101, A*2301-Cw*040101-B*4403-DRB1*040501, A*0201-Cw*040101-B*4403-DRB1*1302, and A*3002-Cw*0602-B*5002-DRB1*0406. This study demonstrates a strong relatedness of ME to other Moroccan and North African populations, some characteristics of sub-Saharan Africans and evidenced the influence of various immigrations during centuries. Nevertheless, this study highlights some unique genetic traits of the ME population compared to other ethnic groups within Morocco, which could be of great interest for clinical aims, transplantation, and diseases.