T cell receptor polymorphisms in Caucasians and Polynesians

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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to find genetic polymorphisms that might be useful in studies of Polynesian-Caucasian racial admixture and Polynesian disease susceptibility. The allele frequencies of six T cell receptor locus RFLP were measured in 73 Caucasians and two Polynesian ethnic groups comprising 86 Maoris and 95 Samoans. The RFLP studied were (locus/enzyme/probe): C/Taq1/Y14, V/Taq1/Y14, C/BglII/Y35, C/PvuII/HGP02, V7/Bam HI/V7.4 and VP8/Bam HI/V8.1. Racial differences in allele frequency were present with all six RFLP (P < 0.001). The allele frequencies of the V/Taq1/Y14 and the Vp7/Bam HI/7.4 RFLP were similar in the two Polynesian groups, both of which differed from the Caucasians. The 1.4 kb allele of the V/Taq1/Y14 RFLP and the 8.0 kb allele of the V7/Bam HI/7.4 RFLP were present in low frequency in both Polynesian groups compared to the Caucasian group, consistent with a gene flow effect. These alleles may be useful in studies of Caucasian–Polynesian racial admixture.