HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 Allele and Haplotype Frequencies in Renal Transplant Candidates in a Population in Southern Brazil.

BACKGROUND

Very few studies have examined the diversity of human leukocyte antigens (HLA) in the Brazilian renal transplant candidates.

METHODS

The frequencies of the HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 alleles, haplotypes and phenotypes were studied in 522 patients with chronic renal failure, renal transplant candidates, registered at the Transplant Centers in north/northwestern Paraná State, southern Brazil. Patients were classified according to the ethnic group (319 whites [Caucasians], 134 mestizos [mixed race descendants of Europeans, Africans, and Amerindians; browns or "pardos"] and 69 blacks). The HLA typing was performed by the polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotide method (PCR-SSO), combined with Luminex technology.

RESULTS

In the analysis of the total samples, 20 HLA-A, 32 HLA-B, and 13 HLA-DRB1 allele groups were identified. The most frequent allele groups for each HLA locus were HLA-A02 (25.4%), HLA-B44 (10.9%), and HLA-DRB113 (13.9%). The most frequent haplotypes were HLA-A01-B08-DRB103 (2.3%), A02-B44-DRB107 (1.2%), and A03-B07-DRB111 (1.0%). Significant differences (P < 0.05) were observed in the HLA-A68, B08, and B*58 allele frequencies among ethnic groups.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides the first data on the HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 allele, phenotype and haplotype frequencies of renal transplant candidates in a population in southern Brazil.