Meta-analysis confirms the LCE3C_LCE3B deletion as a risk factor for psoriasis in several ethnic groups and finds interaction with HLA-Cw6.

A multicenter meta-analysis including data from 9,389 psoriasis patients and 9,477 control subjects was performed to investigate the contribution of the deletion of genes LCE3C and LCE3B, involved in skin barrier defense, to psoriasis susceptibility in different populations. The study confirms that the deletion of LCE3C and LCE3B is a common genetic factor for susceptibility to psoriasis in the European populations (OR(Overall) = 1.21 (1.

Genome-wide association analysis with selective genotyping identifies candidate loci for adult height at 8q21.13 and 15q22.33-q23 in Mongolians.

We performed a genome-wide association study with 23,465 microsatellite markers to identify genes related to adult height. Selective genotyping was applied to extremely tall and extremely short individuals from the Khalkh-Mongolian population. Two loci, 8q21.

Alu insertion polymorphisms in Native Americans and related Asian populations.

Background: Alu insertions provide useful markers for the study of inter-population affinities and historical processes, but data on these systems are not numerous in Native Americans and related populations.

Aim: The study aimed to answer the following questions: (a) do the population relationships found agree with ethnic, historical and geographical data? and (b) what can heterozygote levels and associated results inform us about the events that led to the colonization of the New World?

Subjects And Methods: Twelve Alu insertion polymorphisms were studied in 330 individuals belonging to South American Native, Siberian and Mongolian populations. These data were integrated with those from 526 persons, to ascertain the relationships between Asian, Northern Arctic and Amerindian populations.

Genetic features of Khoton Mongolians revealed by SNP analysis of the X chromosome.

The Khoton Mongolian population is a small and relatively isolated ethnic group residing predominantly in the northwestern part of Mongolia. A recent genetic study of the Y chromosome revealed that the major Mongolian ethnic groups have a relatively close genetic affinity to populations in the northern part of East Asia, while the Khoton population reflected an apparent genetic differentiation from the other Mongolian populations. To further investigate the genetic features of the Khoton and the other Mongolian populations, we analyzed the single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the Xq13.

Intra- and intercontinental molecular variability of an Alu insertion in the 3' untranslated region of the LDLR gene.

One-hundred three individuals from two Mongolian, two Siberian, and ten native American populations were studied in relation to a 340-bp sequence from an Alu insertion located in the 3' untranslated region of the LDLR gene. Seven haplotypes have been determined, and haplotype B1 was the most common, accounting for about half the sequences found. In general, diversity values are quite high, about 2.

Genetic features of Mongolian ethnic groups revealed by Y-chromosomal analysis.

About 20 ethnic groups reside in Mongolia. On the basis of genetic and anthropological studies, it is believed that Mongolians have played a pivotal role in the peopling of Central and East Asia. However, the genetic relationships among these ethnic groups have remained obscure, as have their detailed relationships with adjacent populations.

Umbilical cord blood dendritic cells are a rich source of soluble HLA-DR: synergistic effect of exosomes and dendritic cells on autologous or allogeneic T-Cell proliferation.

In this study, we compared soluble HLA-DR (sHLA-DR) production in the culture supernatants of various cell sources [T and B cells, monocytes and dendritic cells (DCs) either from adult peripheral blood (PB) or umbilical cord blood (UCB)]. DCs produced the highest amount of sHLA-DR molecules as compared to other cell sources, with UCB DCs producing the highest amount. Different kinetics of sHLA-DR production were found between immature and mature UCB DCs (mDC, iDC) (derived either from CD34(+) or CD14(+) cells).

Genetic isolates in East Asia: a study of linkage disequilibrium in the X chromosome.

The background linkage disequilibrium (LD) in genetic isolates is of great interest in human genetics. Although many empirical studies have evaluated the background LD in European isolates, such as the Finnish and Sardinians, few data from other regions, such as Asia, have been reported. To evaluate the extent of background LD in East Asian genetic isolates, we analyzed the X chromosome in the Japanese population and in four Mongolian populations (Khalkh, Khoton, Uriankhai, and Zakhchin), the demographic histories of which are quite different from one another.

Human umbilical cord blood NK T cells kill tumors by multiple cytotoxic mechanisms.

Natural killer (NK) T cells are restricted by CD1d and play an important role in the rejection of malignant tumors, but how kill these tumors is unclear. To investigate this, we cultured Valpha24+CD4+ NK T cells in human umbilical cord blood, which was enriched by immunomagnetic beads. In short-term (4 h) cytotoxicity assays, the NK T cells could kill only those targets expressing CD1d.

Inhibition of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity by soluble HLA class I in vitro.

In the present study, the effects of soluble HLA (sHLA) class I molecules against EBV-specific CTL were examined. Two different sources of sHLA class I, either bioengineered spliced form of HLA-B7 (sB7) or natural production from EBV-transformed B cells (natural sHLA), were added during the induction of CTL or incubated with MHC-restricted CD8+ CTL, which were selected by immunobeads just before testing for their cytotoxic activity. Both sB7 and natural sHLA class I blocked the generation of CD8+ CTL and also inhibited the cytotoxic activity of established CTL in a dose-dependent manner.

Molecular analysis of HLA polymorphism in Khoton-Mongolians.

We have investigated polymorphism of the HLA class I and class II genes in Mongolians for the first time using PCR-based techniques. A minor population of Khoton-Mongolians was studied and compared to the major Khalkh-Mongolian population. Eighty-five Khoton- and 41 Khalkh-Mongolian samples were analyzed for polymorphism in HLA-A, -B, -DRB1, -DRB3, -DRB5, -DQA1, -DQB1, -DPA1, and -DPB1 loci using PCR-SSOP and PCR-RFLP methods.