HLA-A*30 alleles and associated haplotypes in the Korean population

HLA-A30 is one of the serologically characterized specificities and has been known to exhibit different haplotypic associations in different ethnic groups. This study reveals the presence of two HLA-A*30 alleles, A*3001 (31/48; 64.6%) and A*3004 (17/48; 35.4%), with each allele existing as a distinct haplotype in the Korean population. One haplotype, A*3001-Cw*0602-B*1302-DRB1*0701-DQA1*02-DQB1*02, found in 77.4% of A*3001-positive individuals is likely identical to the haplotype previously identified by serology in Asians and European Caucasians. A second haplo-type, A*3004-Cw*0802-B*1401-DRB1*0404-DQA1*03-DQB1*0402, found in 64.7% of A*3004-positive individuals has not previously been described. Conserved and distinct haplotypic associations of the two A*30 alleles imply that the two haplotypes may have evolved separately and are relatively new in this population.