Distribution of HLA-A, -C, -B, -DRB1, and -DQB1 polymorphisms in the Korean minority in Kazakhstan, and relatedness to neighboring and distant populations.

BACKGROUND

Among the 125 ethnicities and linguistic groups in Kazakhstan, Koreans represent the eighth minority numerically. HLA class I and class II allele frequencies and extended haplotypes were studied for the first time and were compared to related and distant populations worldwide.

METHODS

HLA class I (A, B, C) and class II (DRB1, DQB1) profile was investigated in Kazakhstani Koreans, and were compared to other populations using standard genetic distances (SGD), neighbor-joining dendrograms, correspondence, and haplotype analysis.

RESULTS

One hundred and thirty-one HLA alleles were identified in Koreans living in Kazakhstan, with A02:01 (23.08%), B35:01 (8.24%), C01:02 (15.38%), DRB108:03 (9.89%), and DQB103:01 (21.98%) being the most frequent alleles. A03:01 ∼ B07:02 (3.85%), B08:01 ∼ DRB103:01 (3.85%), B07:02 ∼ C07:02 (7.14%), and DRB108:03 ∼ DQB106:01 (9.34%) were the most frequent two-locus haplotypes, while A02:01 ∼ B18:01 ∼ C07:01 ∼ DRB111:04 ∼ DQB103:01 and A33:03 ∼ B44:03 ∼ C14:03 ∼ DRB113:02 ∼ DQB1*06:04 (2.2% each) were the most frequent five-locus haplotypes.

CONCLUSION

Korean minority in Kazakhstan was closely related to East Asians, including Mongolians (SGD, 0.044), Tuvans (East Siberia; SGD, 0.081), Burayts (Siberia; SGD, 0.094), but distant from East Mediterranean such as Lebanese (SGD, 0.367), Greek (SGD, 0.377), and Saudi (SGD, 0.414), and most Siberians (SGD, 0.473-0.699). This relatedness could be mainly attributed to massive migration of Koryo Saram to Kazakhstan in the 20th century.