Point mutation in the alpha helix of the HLA-C alpha2 domain generates a novel HLA-C allele,HLA-Cw*0106, in a Han Chinese individual in Taiwan.

We report herein the identification of a new HLA-C allele using sequence-based typing (SBT). This novel allele, HLA-Cw*0106, was found in a Han Chinese individual from Taiwan. This individual was typed using SBT as havinga class I HLA genotype of HLA-A*0206/0207, HLA-B*4601/ 5601, and HLA-Cw*0102/0106. This new allele differs from HLA-Cw*0102 in one of the nucleotides of the polymorphic exon 3 at codon 152 (GAG→GTG; E152V). This residue is located in the a helix of the HLA-C α 2 domain and may have the potential to affect the binding of HLA-C molecules with antigenic peptides and/or the interactions with the T cell receptor. This new allele was detected in a few individuals of Han Chinese in Taiwan, but has not yet been observed in the aboriginal populations in Taiwan.