Objective: To investigate the distribution of HLA-E alleles in Chinese Han in Shanghai area.
Methods: HLA-E alleles were assigned by using a PCR/SSO method in 201 random healthy individuals from Shanghai region. HLA-A,-B antigens typing was carried out with NIH standard microlymphocytoxicy method.
Results: Three alleles of HLA-E could be detected in this population. The E*0101 is the most common allele with a frequency of 42.29%, followed by E*01032 and E*01031 with 32.84% and 24.88% respectively. No E*0102 and E*0104 could be detected in all of the individuals. The analysis of linkage on two loci between HLA-E and HLA-A or -B showed that no significant difference could be found between expected frequencies and observed frequencies excepting B15/E*01032 and A2/E*01032.
Conclusion: The allele frequencies of HLA-E are 42.29% for E*0101, 24.88% and 32.84% for E*01031 and E*01032 respectively in Shanghai Chinese. No extensive linkage disequilibrium was found between HLA-E and HLA-A or -B locus.