HLA-A, B and C polymorphisms in three major populations living in South Africa

The HLA class I antigen gene and haplotype frequencies of three major population groups living in the Transvaal province of South Africa were determined. The HLA-A, B and C antigens were tested in 877 South African Negroids, 381 Coloured and 771 Caucasoids. Differences in gene and haplotype frequencies between the various populations were observed. HLA-A11 appears with a low frequency in the Negroids (gf = 0.004) and the Caucasoids revealed an absence of HLA-Bw70. The frequencies of the HLA antigens in the Coloured population were generally intermediate between those of the other two groups. The most frequent haplotypes were A3, B7; A30, B8 and A2, B58 in the Caucasoids, Negroids and Coloured respectively. Genetic distance analysis reveals that Negroids and Caucasoids are distinct groups and the Coloured occupy an intermediate position.