HLA-A36

HLA-A36 (A36) is a human leukocyte antigen serotype within HLA-A serotype group. The serotype is determined by the antibody recognition of α³⁶ subset of HLA-A α-chains. For A36, the alpha "A" chain are encoded by the HLA-A*36 allele group and the β-chain are encoded by B2M locus. This group currently is dominated by A*3601. A36 and A*36 are almost synonymous in meaning.

A36 is more common in Africa (North and East) and Central Asia. A36 is rare HLA-A allele group.

Serotype

A36 has a high false serotyping rate to A1.

Distribution

A36 is largely limited to Africa. Outside Africa more than half of the populations have no A36 and the majority that do, have only trace levels. The exception is in Central/East Central Asia. This appears not to be coincidental. HLA DR3-DQ2 linkage and frequency indicates a strong possibility of a recent migration from either North or West Africa in which the DR3-DQ2 (notably DRB1*0302) and A*33-B*58 haplotypes were carried into and redistributed from Central Asia into the surrounding populations.