HLA Histocompatibility Antigens in a Polynesian Population - Cook Islanders of Mauke

Abstract

Polynesians living on the island of Mauke in the Cook Island group were typed for HLA-A and -B locus antigens. The Mauke population has restricted HLA polymorphism, with 5 A-locus antigens and 4 B-locus antigens accounting for a majority of the HLA phenotypes. Although some differences in antigen frequency were found when Mauke Islanders were compared with Polynesians from Easter Island and Samoa, the Mauke Islanders were closer in their HLA antigenic profile to Polynesians than to Melanesians.