DISTRIBUTION OF HLA-I ANTIGENS IN FINNO-U GRIAN POPULATIONS OF RUSSIA(MORDOVIANS AND MARIS)

Distributions and gametic associations of HLA I antigens were studied in two Finno-Ugrian populations of Russia: Mordovians (300 subjects, i ncluding 148 Erzyas and 152 Mokshas) and Maris (137 subjects). Regardi ng the Mordovian population, Erzya and Moksh subpopulations significan tly differed from each other only in the frequency of the A9 antigen. However, the Mari and Mordovian populations differed from each other c onsiderably. Maris exhibited higher frequencies of antigens A9, B27, a nd B40 and lower frequencies of B5, B8, and B16 compared to Erzyas, as well as higher frequencies of A3, A28, B27, and B40 and lower frequen cies of A10, B5, B8, B16, and B18 compared to Moksha. In addition, Erz yas, Mokshas, and Maris differed from one another in the gametic assoc iations revealed. In general, our data indicated that the three popula tions, which display characteristic features of both Caucasoid and Mon goloid races, differ from one another with respect to the HLA genetic polymorphism. In all of the three populations, a positive association of the B27 antigen with spondylarthropathies (SAPs) was revealed. This confirms the hypothesis that B27 is involved in the pathogenesis of s ome rheumatoid diseases.