Genotype of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQA1 locus was analyzed in Koreans (n= 467) using the 14th International Workshop protocol established to characterize the sequences of exons 1-4 of the gene. Unexpectedly, it appeared that the DQA1 (19 alleles) was more diverse than DQB1 (15 alleles) in the study population. DQA1*010201, DQA1*0303, DQA1*0103, and DQA1*0302 appeared to be major alleles exhibiting more than 10%. Among six allele groups, DQA1*01-*06, DQA1*01 showed highest diversity exhibiting seven different alleles. Analysis using maximum likelihood method showed numerous multi-locus HLA haplotypes. High relative linkage disequilibrium values (RLD) of the two-locus haplotypes and exclusive association of a specific DQA1 allele with a specific DRB1 and/or DQB1 alleles suggested tight linkage of DQA1 to DRB1 and DQB1. In HLA-matching process for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, however, DQA1 typing would be informative for individuals carrying specific DRB1 allele (DRB1*0802, DRB1*1201, or DRB1*1403) that could be associated with multiple DQA1 alleles in the study population. Information obtained in this study will be useful in medical and forensic areas as well as in anthropology.
Four novel human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DQA1 alleles have been characterized by direct DNA sequencing of coding exons 1-4. All the novel alleles exhibited a single nucleotide substitution either in exon 3 or in exon 4 when compared with previously defined alleles. Thus, it is likely that alleles were generated by point mutation from pre-existing alleles in the population. Substitutions resulted in either a silent (DQA1*010203) or an amino acid change (DQA1*0506, DQA1*0507, and DQA1*0508). The substituted sites were both previously known polymorphic and conserved positions. Putative haplotypes associated with the novel alleles were deduced based on the HLA types shared by the individuals carrying a novel allele or from previously reported population data.
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