New evidence for balancing selection at the HLA-G locus in South Amerindians

• Main Authors: Tiago Degani Veit, Juciana Cazarolli, Francisco Mauro Salzano, Marion Schiengold, José Artur Bogo Chies
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Genética 2012-01-01
• Series: Genetics and Molecular Biology
• Subjects: HLA-G 14 bp INDEL; balancing selection; Amerindians; pathogen resistance
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1415-47572012000600005

HLA-G is a non-classical HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) molecule characterized by limited tissue distribution under normal physiological conditions and low variability at both DNA and protein levels. Several studies suggest that HLA-G could play a role, as an immunoregulatory molecule, in situations as diverse as transplantation, cancer, viral infections and inflammatory diseases. A total of 237 individuals from 21 South American tribes speaking nine different linguistic families were studied in relation to the 14 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism at the HLA-G gene. A consistent (seven in nine) excess of heterozygosity in samples classified by language was obtained. Our data supply evidences for balancing selection acting at the HLA-G 14 bp INDEL region. Enhanced fetal survival in a pathogen-rich environment may account for these findings.