HLA‐D locus in Israel. Characterization of 14 local HTC's and a population study

Abstract

Homozygous typing cells [HTC] (14) identified in Israel are described. Of these typing cells 2 were of Ashkenazi and 11 of non-Ashkenazi origin, while the remaining HTC was from the Arab donor. Of the 14 HTC characterized in this manner, 10 were offspring of consanguineous marriages; all were non-Ashkenazim. Nine HTC expressed specificities previously recognized in Caucasians, 4 HTC represented new specificities (J1-J4) and 1 typing cell was analogous to the Japanese Dw12 (DHO) specificity. The distribution of HLA-D specificities in 120 randomly selected Israelis representing the 2 main Jewish subpopulations, Ashkenazim and non-Ashkenazim, was studied with the locally defined HTC. HLA-Dw5 and Dw10 were significantly increased while Dw2 and Dw6 were significantly decreased in Israelis as compared to Caucasians.