DNA typing of the HLA-A, -B and -C genes: possible MHC class I haplotypes in the northeastern-Thais.

The phenotype and gene frequencies of HLA class I were studied in the Northeastern Thai population. Blood samples were collected from 100 unrelated healthy northeastern-Thais. HLA-A, -B and -Cw alleles were determined using the polymerase chain reaction- amplification refractory mutation system (PCR-ARMS). 12 HLA-A, 20 HLA-B and 14 HLA-Cw alleles were found. Linkage disequilibrium analysis indicated the existence of 7 HLA-A-B and 19 HLA-B-Cw haplotypes. A0207-Cw01-B*4601 was the most common possible haplotype in this population. These results provide regional basic information for further studies in anthropology, organ transplantation and MHC disease associations in the northeastern-Thais.