Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) Related Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Haplotype Sharing among Southern East Asian Population

Abstract

The human leukocyte antigens (HLAs) play important roles in the immune systems to response to various pathogens and disease among individuals. The aim of this study was analyze the HLA allele and haplotype frequencies of Southern East Asian population that show high incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) to evaluate the shared HLA haplotype contribution to NPC susceptibility among the population and analyses the genetic affinities between the population. We collect information of HLA haplotype from our previous study, other published paper, and HLA database in 19 population during 2005 to 2015. Haplotype frequencies were estimated using the maximum likelihood method based on an expectation maximization algorithm with ARLEQUIN v.2.0 software. We also calculated the genetic distance among 19 Southern East Asians based on HLA allele frequency using modified Cavalli-Sforza (DA) distance method. Then, a phylogenetic tree was constructed using DISPAN software and principal component analysis (PCA) was performed using XLSTAT-PRO software. A33-B58-DR3 haplotype, tightly linked to NPC, was commonly observed in all populations, supporting the high incidence of NPC in the populations. In addition, A2-B46 haplotype also associated with NPC, was also commonly found in several population that may also have a role in the disease development. The conclusion is the HLA haplotype sharing has an important role than the HLA allele sharing. The A33-B58-DR3 haplotype and A2-B46-DR9 haplotype in this study could be related to NPC in the Southern East Asian populations. The observed haplotype needs to be tested in the real patients to confirm the assumption.