Histocompatibility Antigens in two American Indian Tribes of French Guiana

Abstract

Two South American Indian populations were typed for HLA antigens. In each, the individuals typed were related and their genealogies were known. Determination of their genotypes was done; there seemed to be neither an excess nor a deficiency of homozygotes. The antigens observed, A2, A9, Aw19.2 (Aw30-Aw31) and A28 for the 1st locus and B5, Bw15, Bw35 and Bw40 for the 2nd locus are in accordance with those previously described for other South American Indians. The 2 populations belong to the same primary linguistic family Tupi-Guarani and they live in the same geographic area, but there was no intertribal marriage until recently. Genetic drift can explain the differences observed.