Human Leukocyte Antigen Diversity in the Yoruba Population and Its Implications for Transplantation in Southwestern Nigeria

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes encode cell surface proteins essential for immune recognition and self-non-self discrimination. High HLA polymorphism has profound implications for organ transplantation compatibility, autoimmune disease susceptibility, and vaccine design. Despite the Yoruba being one of the most genetically studied African populations globally, HLA allele frequency data specific to South West Nigerian clinical transplantation contexts remain limited. This study characterised HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-DRB1 allele diversity in 200 unrelated Yoruba adults from Osun, Ekiti, and Lagos States. High-resolution HLA typing was performed using sequence-specific oligonucleotide PCR (PCR-SSO) on DNA extracted from buccal swabs. Allele frequencies, haplotype structures, and linkage disequilibrium were estimated. Comparison with global HLA databases revealed several alleles at frequencies unique to the Yoruba population. HLA-B*53:01, previously implicated in malaria resistance, was detected at a notably high frequency. These population-level HLA data will support donor-recipient matching in South West Nigerian transplantation programmes and contribute to autoimmune disease mapping studies. Keywords: HLA diversity, Yoruba population, transplantation, PCR-SSO, South West Nigeria