Molecular Analyses of HLA-DRB1, -DPB1,
and -DQB1 in Jing Ethnic Minority of
Southwest China
Jing-hai Lin, Ze-huan Liu, Feng-juan Lv, Yong-gui Fu,
Xin-lan Fan, Shi-yong Li, Jian-ming Lu, Xiao-yi Liu,
and An-long Xu
ABSTRACT: In the present study, DNA typing for
HLA-DRB1, DQB1 and DPB1 was performed using
polymerase chain reaction-sequencing based typing
(PCR-SBT) method in 144 random selected Jing ethnic
individuals inhabiting in South China. Allele frequencies
and two-locus haplotypes (DRB1-DQB1) were statisti-
cally analyzed and 20 DPB1 alleles, 27 DRB1 and 20
DQB1 were detected. The most frequent DPB1 allele was
DPB1*0501 with the percentage of 36.9% followed by
DPB1*1301 (15.7%), DPB1*0401 (11.0%) and
DPB1*020102 (9.8%). Among the 27 detected DRB1
alleles, DRB1*120201 (13.8%) was most commonly ob-
served followed by DRB1*150201, *030101 and
*090102 alleles with the frequencies of 9.4%, 9.1% and
8.3%, respectively. Among the 20 detected DQB1 alleles
the most predominant one was DQB1*030101/0309
(19.9%). DQB1*050201 (19.1%), DQB1*0201/0202
(16.1%) and DQB1*050101 (12.3%) were also fre-
quently observed in Jing population. Statistical analysis of
two-locus haplotypes showed that DRB1*120201-
DQB1*030101/DRB1*120201-DQB1*0309 (HF =
9.4%, D = 6.65 10
-2
) was most predominant fol-
lowed by DRB1*030101-DQB1*0201/DRB1*030101-
DQB1*0202 (HF = 8.1%, D = 6.66 10
-2
). The
comparison of HLA class II allele and haplotype frequen-
cies in Jing with those in other populations all over the
world and a dendrogram based on the DRB1, DQB1 and
DPB1 genes suggested that Jing ethnic population has an
origin of Southeast Asia and is belonged to the southern
group of Chinese populations. Human Immunology 64,
830 – 834 (2003). © American Society for Histocompat-
ibility and Immunogenetics, 2003. Published by Elsevier
Inc.
KEYWORDS: HLA class II genes; allele frequencies;
PCR-SBT; Jing ethnic minority; haplotype frequencies
ABBREVIATIONS
HLA human leukocyte antigen
NJ neighbor joining
PCR polymerase chain reaction
SBT sequence-based typing
EDTA ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid
IHWG International Histocompatability Working
Group
EM expectation-maximaization
INTRODUCTION
The Jing ethnic minority, 1 of 55 official ethnic minor-
ities of China, is a very small ethnic minority with only
18,700 people. They inhabit primarily in the compact
communities of three islands of Wanwei, Wutou, and
Shanxin in the Fangcheng Multiethnic Autonomous
County, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, near
the Sino-Vietnam border. According to the historic ev-
idences, the ancestors of the Jings emigrated from Viet-
nam to China in the early 16th century and settled on the
three uninhabited islands [1].
Human leukocyte antigens (HLA), the major histo-
compatibility complex in human, was the most polymor-
phic genetic system of mankind, and played a key role in
the immune response by presenting peptides to T lym-
phocytes. The extensive allelic polymorphism and the
From the Department of Biochemistry (J.-h.L., Z.L., F.L., Y.F., X.F.,
X.L., H.Z., A.X.), Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering of MOE, College
of Life Sciences, Sun Yatsen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, Guang-
dong; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of Dongxing City (S.L.),
Dongxing, Guangxi; and Hospital of Jiangping Town (J.-m.L.), Dongxing,
Guangxi, P.R. China.
Address reprint requests to: Dr. A. Xu, Department of Biochemistry,
College of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou
510275, Peoples Republic of China; Tel: +86 (20) 84113655; Fax: +86
(20) 84038377; E-mail: ls36@zsu.edu.cn.
Received November 12, 2002; revised April 23, 2003; accepted May 15,
2003.
Human Immunology 64, 830 – 834 (2003)
© American Society for Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, 2003 0198-8859/03/$–see front matter
Published by Elsevier Inc. doi:10.1016/S0198-8859(03)00128-9