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

Abstract

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.

Human leukocyte antigen–A, –B, and –DRB1 allele and haplotype frequencies in the Mozambican population: A blood donor–based population study

“…We therefore anticipate the need for customization of the HLA typing kits to increase the quality and resolution of HLA typing in the African population. The most frequent HLA-A alleles found in this study were HLA-A*30, -A*02, -A*23, and -A*68, with maximal frequency for A*30 (23.9%) as in most African population [8,10]. Interestingly, A*31 which is observed in African population at low frequencies, is absent in our sample [8,16].…”

“…In addition, few studies have been conducted in populations from the sub-Saharan area [8 -10]. In fact, only four populations have been extensively studied in subSaharan Africa: the Zulu from South Africa [11], the Luo from Kenya [8], the Fulani from Burkina Faso [9], and the Maltasa Berber from the city of Nador, Marroco [10].…”

Characterization of the Anti-HLA Class I and II IgG Antibodies in Moroccan IVIg Using Regular Beads and Ibeads in Luminex Multiplex Single Antigen Immunoassay

“…In this investigation, the reactivity lot 3 of Moroccan IVIg (Table 5) [5]. The density of the antibodies as assessed by the levels of MFI for B*0801, B*5001, Cw*0602 and Cw*0702 are high parallel with their high frequency distribution.…”

“…Studies examining HLA-I types in Casablanca, the largest region of Morocco, reported that the most frequent types were HLA-A2 (21%), -A1 (11%), -A3 (10%), -B44 (11.4%), -B50 (9.9%), -B5 (8.5%) and -B35 (6.5%) [4]. Similarly, in the Amazigh ethnic group, the most frequent alleles were HLA-A*0201, A*0101; HLA-B*4403, B*4402, B*0801, B*5001, B*5002; HLA-Cw*0602, Cw*070101, Cw*070102, Cw*0702, Cw*0704, and Cw*0706, Cw*040101 [5]. Molecular typing of HLA-II in Amazigh group (Souss) revealed high frequencies for DRB1*0701, DRB1*0301, DQA1*0501, DQA1*0201, and DQB1*0201 [6].…”

A survey of sub-Saharan gene flow into the Mediterranean at risk loci for coronary artery disease

“…24 Sub-Saharan introgression into Europe could have been the result of indirect contact of Europeans with North Africans already admixed with Sub-Saharan populations. 25,26 This two-step SubSaharan introgression into Europe could be an interesting subject of future research validated through demographic simulations.…”