HLA polymorphism in a Majorcan population of Jewish descent: Comparison with Majorca, Minorca, Ibiza (Balearic Islands) and other Jewish communities

Abstract

'Chueta' was the name given to the Catholic descendants of Jewish victims of the last Spanish Inquisition process in Majorca Island in the western Mediterranean. We have studied the allele distribution of HLA-A, -B, -Cw, -DRB1 and -DQB1 loci of 103 random, healthy, unrelated individuals belonging to the ancient Majorcan Jewish community, known locally as Chuetas, and 589 individuals from the Balearic population selected because of their typical Balearic - Majorca, Minorca or Ibiza - lineages and according to their ancestor's place of birth. Our aim was to establish the genetic relationship between Majorcan Chuetas, and Balearic and other Jewish and Mediterranean populations. Our results have shown that, to a remarkable extent, they have retained their biological identity, with a unique pattern, in terms of gene and haplotype frequencies, separate from the other populations of Majorca. The Chuetas were found to be more related to Moroccan and Libyan Jews than other Majorcans. Characteristic Jewish haplotypes, A26-B38-DRB1*13, A24-B38-DRB1*11, A1-B52-DRB1*15/16, were found in our study. Some peculiarities were observed in the distribution of common haplotypes among the three main Balearic Islands. The Ibizan population was genetically different from the other Balearic populations, with a high frequency of some haplotypes, for example, A29-Cw*16-B44-DRB1*07-DQB1*03; A1-Cw*07-B8-DRB1*03-DQB1*02. We also found a new haplotype, A25-Cw*12-B39-DRB1*11-DQB1*03(3.5%), in Ibizans and a more limited variability in the HLA alleles that were expressed, perhaps because of genetic isolation. The genetic diversity of the populations from Majorca and Minorca were similar and more related to the mainland Spanish population.

Human leukocyte antigen–A, –B, and –DRB1 allele and haplotype frequencies in the Mozambican population: A blood donor–based population study

“…Based on the haplotypes frequencies, most two-and three-locus HLA haplotype in the blood donors were HLA-A*30-B*42 (7.4%), HLA-A*30-DRB1*03 (6.6%), HLA-B*42-DRB1*03 (5.4%), HLA-A*30-B*42-DRB1*03 (4.9%), and HLA-A*02-B*58-DRB1*11 (4.1%). Although our results need confirmation by additional studies with greater number of participants [8], the predominant three haplotypes HLA-A-B-DRB1 frequencies are in accordance with the haplotypes previously reported in the sub-Saharan population [8,9,19].…”

MICA-HLA-B haplotype diversity and linkage disequilibrium in a population of Jewish descent from Majorca (the Balearic Islands)

“…Peripheral blood was obtained from 95 unrelated healthy individuals from the Chueta population, recruited as previously reported [13], and from 165 unrelated healthy Majorcan individuals of Caucasian origin. Informed consent was obtained from donors according to the Balearic Research Ethical Committee rules.…”

“…The aim of this study was to extend previous knowledge about haplotypes of the major histocompatibility complex in Chuetas compared with Caucasian population from the Balearic Islands [13] and analyze the MICA diversity in this community. In this way, MICA and HLA-B allele frequencies and haplotype variations were studied in 95 unrelated healthy individuals from the Chueta population and compared with 165 unrelated age-and sex-matched Majorcan healthy controls.…”

“…Despite their conversion, they were secluded by their immediate neighbors and demonstrated a strong endogamic behavior until the middle of the 20th century [11,12]. The genetics of this population have been studied using different markers and polymorphisms to establish their relationships with other Jewish and non-Jewish populations from the same area, showing some particular traits [13][14][15][16][17]. Familial Mediterranean fever, an autoinflammatory disorder that affects Mediterranean populations and is especially severe in non-Ashkenazi Jews, has a high prevalence in Chuetas [18].…”

Polimorfismos del sistema HLA (loci A*, B* y DRB1*) en población colombiana

“…El HLA-A*02, al igual que todas las poblaciones mundiales estudiadas, presenta alta frecuencia en la población colombiana (10)(11)(12)(13) …”