We used polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based DNA typing to identify HLA cl
ass II alleles of two individuals from ancient human remains. Genomic DNAs
were isolated from two ancient human skeletons excavated from the Sanganji
and Kitakogane sites in the main and northern islands of Japan, respectivel
y. They were archaeologically estimated to be approximately 5,000 and 6,000
years old respectively, representing the remnants from the Jomon era. High
molecular weight DNA was extracted by the standard proteinase K-phenol ext
raction method followed by purification with a Centricon-30 micro concentra
tor. Several rounds of PCR successfully gave rise to amplification of the H
LA-DRB1 and -DQA1 genes. The PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (
PCR-RFLP) and sequencing based typing (PCR-SBT) methods revealed that those
ancient individuals possessed the DRB1 and DQA1 alleles which are highly p
revalent among the modern north Asian as well as Japanese populations.