FCGR3B polymorphism in three ethnic Chinese populations

FcγRIIIb receptor is expressed primarily on neutrophils as three polymorphic antigens (HNA-1a, HNA-1b, and HNA-1c) that are encoded by alleles FCGR3B*1, FCGR3B*2, and FCGR3B*3, respectively. These antigens play an important role in immune neutropenia; their absence predisposes individuals who lack them to life-threatening infections. This study investigated the FCGR3B gene frequencies in three ethnic Chinese populations: Han, She, and Tajik. FCGR3B*1, FCGR3B*2, and FCGR3B*3 were genotyped by PCR using sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP). The results showed the gene frequencies were 0.55 for FCGR3B*1 and 0.45 for FCGR3B*2 in 177 Han individuals, 0.69 for FCGR3B*1 and 0.31 for FCGR3B*2 in 87 She individuals, and 0.35 for FCGR3B*1 and 0.65 for FCGR3B*2 in 99 Tajik individuals, respectively. The FCGR3B_null genotype was not found, but the FCGR3B*3 allele was identified in only three individuals in the Tajik population. DNA clone and sequencing confirmed that these individuals had the C⇒A mutation at position 266 on exon 3. This study found that the gene frequencies in Han and She ethnic groups were similar to those previously reported in the Asian population, but the FCGR3B allele frequencies in the Tajik population were more similar to that of Caucasians. Immunohematology 2005;21:25–28.