More than 150 novel variants of HLA class I genes detected in German Stem Cell Donor Registry and UCLA International Cell Exchange samples.

High throughput analysis using amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) of HLA class I genes in samples of registered stem cell donors of the German Stem Cell Donor Registry Düsseldorf revealed 151 novel variants. In addition, four new variants were identified in well-defined samples obtained from the UCLA International Cell Exchange program. New alleles included 37 HLA-A, 57 HLA-B, and 61 HLA-C variant alleles. All variants were confirmed by NGS of HLA-A, HLA-B, and HLA-C genes including the respective 5' and 3' untranslated regions as well as Sanger sequence analysis. Mainly, the variants encompass single nucleotide changes in intronic as well as exonic parts of the genes. We identified intronic variations in 114 new alleles, nonsynonymous nucleotide changes in 25 alleles, synonymous nucleotide changes in nine alleles, and three hybrid alleles. Four alleles carry exonic deletions or insertions resulting in frameshift of peptide translation. Two novel alleles of HLA-C were shown to result in splicing defects of the transcript. Two alleles showed exonic as well as intronic changes. Thirty-four of the new alleles were found in multiple samples.