Human leukocyte antigens in inhabitants of Taiwan

Human leukocyte antigens (HLA) were investigated in 200 healthy Taiwan inhabitants of Taiwanese (46 persons), Hakka (36), Tai-Ya Tribe (28) Pu-Long Tribe (30) Pai-Wan Tribe (30) and Lu-kai (30) descent. In those of Taiwanese and Hakka descent, HLA-A11 and A2 were the two most frequently seen human leukocyte antigens. HLA-A11 was seen in 69.6% in those of Taiwanese descent and 61.1% in those of Hakka descent. HLA-A2 was seen in 50.0% of the Taiwanese and 44.4% of the Hakka. For the B loci, B40 (Taiwanese, 43.5%; Hakka, 44.4%), Bw46 (Taiwanese, 28.3%; Hakka, 19.4%) and B13 (Taiwanese, 15.2%; Hakka, 30.6%) were the most common antigens. For the C loci, Cw3 (Taiwanese, 57.1%; Hakka 64.9%), Cw1 (Taiwanese, 28.6%; Hakka, 35.1%) and Cw7 (Taiwanese, 40.5%; Hakka, 29.9%) were commonly seen antigens. The most commonly detected antigens for the DR loci were: DR2 (Taiwanese, 45.1%; Hakka, 56.8%) and DR4 (Taiwanese, 37.3%; Hakka, 32.4%). These results disclose that no major human leukocyte antigenic differences exist between the two aforementioned groups in this study. In addition, there are no major differences in Taiwanese and Hakka descent, and those of south and north mainland Chinese descent. All bear some antigenic similarities. However, for aborigines, the original inhabitants of Taiwan, the HLA antigens are significantly different from the Han Chinese as a whole. Characteristic features are seen in A24, Bw60, DRw6 and DRw8. In the meantime, a high frequency of common antigens are shared among the tribes and consequently a large number of blank alleles are seen in the aborigines. This reflects the homozygosity effect which is often seen in an isolated society.