Class II HLA allele polymorphism: DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 alleles and haplotypes in the New Zealand Maori population.

Class II alleles of interest to transplantation comprise the DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 loci. Sequence-based typing was used to determine the class II allelic variability present in New Zealand Maori, a population with close genetic ties to Polynesia and known anthropological and linguistic connections to mainland Asia. The most common DRB1 alleles identified were DRB11201, DRB1110101, DRB10403 and DRB1080302, with frequencies of 21.5%, 14%, 11.25% and 9.25%, respectively. Standard linkages between the DRB1 locus and the DRB3, 4 and 5 loci were maintained, with no novel patterns identified. The most common DQB1 alleles identified were DQB1030101, DQB1060101, DQB1020101, DQB10602 and DQB1050201, with frequencies of 29.5%, 8%, 7.8%, 6.4% and 6.2%, respectively. The most common DPB1 alleles identified were DPB10501, DPB1040101 and DPB1020102, with frequencies of 40.2%, 28.89% and 15.83%, respectively. A total of 80 estimated DRB1-DQB1 two-locus haplotypes were detected. DRB11201-DQB1030101 was the most frequent (15.40%) haplotype, followed by DRB1110101-DQB1030101 (9.97%), DRB10403-DQB1030201 (7.37%) and DRB1080302-DQB1060101 (5.96%). The allelic variation determined is being used in further analysis of the requirement for bone marrow transplantation in the New Zealand Maori population and has implications for optimal ethnic donor distribution on the New Zealand Bone Marrow Donor Registry, anthropological studies and disease association.