Distribution of HLA Class II Antigens in Three North Indian Populations

Abstract

The distribution of HLA-DRB1 alleles and DQB1 alleles in 583 individuals of three different caste groups of North India was analyzed by using the polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific oligonucleotide probes (SSOP) method. The populations selected were Bhargavas, Chaturvedi and Brahmins. The gene frequency and haplotype analysis revealed that these populations are distinct from one another. The phylogenetic analysis shows that there is a evolutionary relationship among the three groups. Bhargavas and Chaturvedis emerged from a common ancestral population (presumably the original Brahmanical priest population). Chaturvedis diverged first from the original group and at a later date Bhargavas and Brahmins separated from one another.