HLA DR AND DQ POLYMORPHISM IN ASHKENAZI AND NON-ASHKENAZI JEWS - COMPARISON WITH OTHER MEDITERRANEANS

HLA-DR and DQ alleles have been detected by DNA typing in Ashkenazi an d non-Ashkenazi Jews from Israel. Allele frequencies, characteristic D R/DQ linkage disequilibria, population distances and their correspondi ng dendrogram by using the Neighbor-Joining method were used to study relatedness between Jewish and other Mediterranean and non Mediterrane an populations. Closest relatedness is observed between Ashkenati and non-Ashkenazi Jews, and, in decreasing order, also with Algerians, Spa niards (including Spanish-Basques), French and Italians. Also, particu lar characteristic Central European alleles are observed in Ashkenazi Jews and Mediterranean/African alleles in non-Ashkenazi Jews. This is consistent with historical data, Jews being an ancient Mediterranean p opulation, who have had a certain degree of admixture with their 3000- 3000 years old neighbors in spite of cultural and religious traditions which have preserved identity outside Israel.