Distribution of HLA (class I and class II) antigens in the native Dravidian Hindus of Tamil Nadu, south India.

HLA - A, B, C, DR, DQ antigen profile of South Indian Tamil-speaking Hindus of Dravidian descent was studied. Phenotype, gene and haplotype frequencies were calculated and compared with the literature. There was a complete lack of A23, A25 and A32 antigens in the sample presently monitored. Except for minor differences (higher incidence of Cw6 and DR10 antigens), the Dravidian Hindus show similarity to North Indio-Aryan and other Hindu samples. The haplotypes A1, B17; A2, B5; A2, B51; A1, DR7; B12, DR7; B13, DR2; B17, DR7; DR2, DQ1; DR3, DQ2; DR4, DQ3; DR5, DQ3; DR7, DQ2; DR11, DQ3; show significant positive linkage disequilibrium whereas A1, DR2; DR2, DQ2; DR7, DQ1 were significant for negative linkage disequilibrium in the Dravidian Hindus.