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Updated: May 14, 2026

qKAT: Quantitative Semi-automated Typing of Killer-cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptor Genes
Published on: March 6, 2019
New evidence for balancing selection at the HLA-G locus in South Amerindians
Tiago Degani Veit1, Juciana Cazarolli, Francisco Mauro Salzano
1Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. ; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Genética e Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
Abstract:
HLA-G is a non-classical HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) molecule characterized by limited tissue distribution under normal physiological conditions and low variability at both DNA and protein levels. Several studies suggest that HLA-G could play a role, as an immunoregulatory molecule, in situations as diverse as transplantation, cancer, viral infections and inflammatory diseases. A total of 237 individuals from 21 South American tribes speaking nine different linguistic families were studied in relation to the 14 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism at the HLA-G gene. A consistent (seven in nine) excess of heterozygosity in samples classified by language was obtained. Our data supply evidences for balancing selection acting at the HLA-G 14 bp INDEL region. Enhanced fetal survival in a pathogen-rich environment may account for these findings.
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