A study of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genetic characteristics in the Zhuang,the largest ethnic population in China,would provide insight into Zhuang history and give a useful tool for disease associations,transplantation,and anthropology.In the present study,we report the comprehensive HLA-A,HLA-B,HLA-C,and HLA-DRB1 alleles and haplotypes in the Zhuang population of southern China for the first time.A total of 13 HLA-A,24 HLA-B,22 HLA-C,and 18 HLA-DRB1 were identified in 104 Zhuang individuals.The frequencies of HLA-A11:01,A02:07,A24:02,A02:03,and A33:03 on A loci,B15:02,B58:01,B46:01,and B13:01 on B loci,C03:04,C08:01,C01:02,C03:02,and C07:02 on C loci,and DRB115:01,DRB116:02,DRB114:01,DRB115:02,and DRB103:01 on the DRB1 loci were >10%.The A33:03-C03:02-B58:01-DRB103:01 and A02:07-C01:02B46:01-DRB114:01 haplotypes were predominant in the Zhuang.The phylogenetic tree,as well as the analysis of haplotypes,suggested that the Zhuang are genetically similar to southern Chinese populations,especially the Zhuang-Dong language-speaking populations,such as the Bouyei,Dai,and Maonan.Even though the Zhuang and southern Chinese populations shared common alleles and haplotypes,the Zhuang has maintained its unique genetic characteristics.
