Characterization of the major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene B (MICB) polymorphism in a northern Chinese Han population: the identification of a new MICB allele, MICB*023.

Major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related gene B (MICB) has only been characterized for allelic variation in very few human populations. The MICB polymorphism remains largely unknown in Chinese populations. In this study, 104 healthy unrelated Han subjects recruited from central Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, northern China, were investigated by sequence-based typing for MICB allelic variation, the association of MICB alleles with AluyMICB insertion/deletion dimorphism located in MICB intron 1, linkage disequilibrium of MICB with human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B and MICA, and HLA-A-C-B-MICA-MICB haplotypic diversity. Ten kinds of MICB alleles were observed, among which MICB*005:02/010, MICB*002:01, and MICB*004:01 were the most frequent alleles with frequencies of 51.44, 16.35, and 11.54%, respectively. Significant linkage disequilibrium (LD) was observed for 9 of the 21 HLA-B-MICB haplotypes and 6 of the 17 MICA-MICB haplotypes with a frequency >1.5%. In particular, HLA-B*13:01 and HLA-B*13:02, both of which were frequently represented in this population, exhibited a distinct LD pattern with the MICB allele. A new MICB allele, MICB*023, was identified, which differed from MICB*005:02/010 by a single mutation of G to A at position 86 in exon 2, resulting in an amino acid change from arginine to histidine at codon 6. HLA-A*30-C*06-B*13:02-MICA*008:01-MICB*005:02/010 was the most common haplotype, with a frequency of 8.64% in this population. HLA-A*02-C*08-B*48-MICA*Del-MICB*009N demonstrated a frequency of 2.4% in this population. Our results provide for the first time data regarding the MICB genetic polymorphism in northern Chinese Han populations and will form the basis for future studies of the potential role of MICB in allogeneic organ transplantation and disease association in related ethnic groups.