HLA-DRB1, DRB3 AND DRB5 POLYMORPHISM IN A CROATIAN POPULATION

The gene frequencies and haplotypic association within the HLA-DRB reg ion have been investigated in 141 unrelated Croatians. DRB1, DRB3 and DRB5 polymorphism were studied by using polymerase chain reaction and sequence specific oligonucleotide probe (PCR-SSOP) method. Thirty one DRB1, 4 DRB3 and 3 DRB5 alleles were found in our population. DRB1160 1, 0701, *1501, *0101 and *1104 are the most frequent alleles at the DRB1 locus. At the DRB3 locus the most frequent allele is ''0202 while the most frequent DRB5 allele is 02. Two different locus haplotypic associations (DRB1-DRB3 and DRB1-DRB5) were assigned on the basis of k nown linkage disequilibria. Three unusual two-locus associations have been observed: DRB11501-DRB5*02, DRB1*1601*DRB5*0101 and DRB1*1502*DR B50101. These data should be useful for the studies in anthropology, organ transplantation and disease susceptibility in a Croatian populat ion.