HLA CLASS-II DRB1, DQA1 AND DQB1 POLYMORPHISMS IN THE POLISH POPULATION FROM WIELKOPOLSKA

HLA DRB1, DQA1 and DQB1 alleles were determined by DNA PCR-SSO typing in a sample of 99 individuals originating from Wielkopolska (midwester n Poland). A high number of alleles (38 DRB1, 8 DQA1 and 14 DQB1) was detected at each locus, many of them presenting notable frequencies in this population. The three HLA loci are thus characterized by very hi gh heterozygosity levels (93% for DRB1, 85% for DQA1, and 88% for DQB1 ), which confirms the results found for other European populations. A total of 6 DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 haplotypes are detected with an estimated fr equency higher than 5%, namely, DRB11501-DQA1*0102-DQB1 *0602, DRB1*0 701-DQA10201-DQB1*0201, DRB1*0101-DQA1 *0101-DQB1*0501, DRB1*1101-DQA 10501-DQB1*0301, DRB1*03011-DQA1*0501-DQB1*0201, and DRB1*1301-DQB1*0 103-DQB10603. A genetic distance analysis between the Polish and othe r world populations tested for HLA class II indicates that the Wielkop olska community is close to geographically close, rather than linguist ically related populations from Europe. More generally, a good agreeme nt between genetics and geography is found for DRB1 and DQB1 polymorph isms in Europe, suggesting that these two loci are highly informative for assessing historical relationships among humans.