OBJECTIVETo detect genetic polymorphism in the exons 2 to 4 of the MICA gene in Chinese Han population in Shanghai, Dai population in Yunnan province and Uygur population in Xinjiang province respectively.

METHODSDNA samples from 183 random healthy individuals in Han population, 41 in Dai population and 66 in Uygur population were genotyped by using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequence-specific oligonucleotide probing (SSOP) method.

RESULTSIn total, 10, 7 and 9 alleles of MICA were observed in Han, Dai and Uygur population respectively. MICA*008 was the most common allele in the population of both Han and Uygur, whereas MICA*010 was the most popular one in Dai population. Han and Dai had a bit similar distribution pattern (Chi-square=12.809 P=0.046), in contrast with Han to Uygur (Chi-square=58.499 P=0) and Dai to Uygur (Chi-square=49.273 P=0).

CONCLUSIONMICA gene displayed different allele distributions in different populations.

Alleles ; China ; Exons ; genetics ; Gene Frequency ; Genotype ; Geography ; Haplotypes ; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I ; genetics ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Polymorphism, Genetic