GENETIC-POLYMORPHISM OF THE HLA SYSTEM IN KOMI AND KOMI-PERMYAKS

High frequencies of HLA-A2, -A3, -A9, -B7, -B13, -Bw35, and -Cw3 antig ens were found in Sysolian and Udorian Komi (from Vizinga and Koslan, respectively), as well as in Zyuzdian Komi-Permyaks. In some populatio ns, high frequencies of HLA-A10, -A28, -B21, -B27, and -B40 antigens w ere also found. Similarity in both gene frequency patterns and heteroz ygosity level was noted between these populations and the population o f more western European regions, as well as Finno-Ugric nations. Frequ encies of some alleles, e.g., HLA-B8 -B12. -B16, and -B18, were found to be intermediate between the corresponding estimates for Mongoloids and Caucasoids. The Mongoloid influence on the gene pool is expressed in increased HLA-B27, -B40, -Cw2, -Cw3, and -Cw4 frequencies. The freq uencies of HLA -A3, -A28, -B7, -B 13, and -B35 antigens are higher, an d that of HLA-B5 is lower, than the respective frequencies in both Cau casoids and Mongoloids. This reflects the specificity of the ancestral group, whose peculiarities cannot be attributed exclusively to the re sults of Caucasoid-Mongoloid intermixing. The high level of genetic di fferentiation of Komi ethnographic groups (F(st) = 0.0 1 88 +/- 0.0045 ) is emphasized. The characteristics of distribution of HLA antigens a nd haplotypes are explained in terms of the ethnogenesis of the Komi; markers for their constituent ethnic components were found.