Interaction between haptoglobin subtypes and AB0 blood groups in a Bengalee population.

Blood samples from 621 individuals of a Caste Hindu Population from West Bengal (India) were investigated in an attempt to find out an association between the AB0 blood groups and Haptoglobin (HP) subtypes. AB0 blood grouping was done on the basis of the agglutination test with standard anti-sera. Haptoglobin subtyping only for the HP1 allele was done by Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE). A significant association was found with a significantly lower HP1S allele frequency in blood group 0 versus other AB0 blood groups. A comparatively higher allele frequency of HP1S was found in this population sample. An inverse relationship between HP1S and HP2 has been revealed in each blood group. It appears that the major portion of HP1 alleles in the A, B, and AB blood groups belongs to the HP*1S allele compared to that of the 0 blood group.