HLA alleles and haplotype frequencies in Iranian population.

Background: HLA genotyping is a prerequisite for selection of suitable donors in the process of bone marrow transplantation.

Methods: In the current study, the frequencies of HLA-A, -B, -C and -DRB1 alleles and A-B-C-DRB1 haplotypes were assessed in 855 healthy Iranian persons using a low-resolution sequence specific primer (SSP) kit.

Results: Frequencies were compared between 11 subpopulations including Armani, Balouch, Bandari, Turk, Turkaman, Arab, Fars, Kurd, Gilaki, Lor and Mazani. In total, 17 HLA-A alleles were detected, one of which (HLA-A*74) was present only among Lors. HLA-A*23 and -A*26 were the most frequent HLA-A alleles among Armanis. HLA-A*23 was also common among Turkamans. HLA-A*11 and -A*26 were most frequent among the Balouch subpopulation. The former allele was also frequent among Bandaris. HLA-A*02 was identified as the most common HLA-A allele among Turk, Arab and Fars subpopulations. HLA-A*30 were strongly enriched among Gilakis. A total of 31 HLA-B alleles were detected across the target population. While all alleles were present among Fars subgroup, Armanis and Turkamans had the lowest degree of diversity among the alleles examined. Moreover, HLA-B*35 and B*49 alleles were strongly enriched among Armanis and Turkamans, respectively. A total of 13 HLA-C alleles were identified across the population, all of which were present in the Fars subpopulation. HLA-C*03 and C*04 were the only HLA-C alleles identified among the Bandari subpopulation. HLA-DRB1*08 was not detected in any subpopulation other than Fars. HLA-DRB1*16 was significantly enriched among Bandaris. These data have practical significance in anthropological studies, disease association investigations and bone marrow transplantation.