HLA study in Bolivian Quechua Amerindians from Titikaka Lake Area.

Quechua Amerindians established Inca Empire and chose Cuzco as their capital. Their language is closely related to that of Aymara ethnic group and both of them were originated from Titikaka Lake Altiplano area. In the present study we have analyzed Bolivian Quechua HLA profile and found that it has common characters with other Andean and Pacific Amerindians (Uros, Aymaras, Lamas, Mapuches, Athabascan), and Pacific Islanders, including Easter Islanders: relatively high frequency of HLA-A*24 (:02), class II haplotypes DRB1*08:02-DQB1*04:02, and DRB1*04:03-DQB1* 03:02. Titikaka Lake area prehistoric populations: Quechua, Aymaras and Uros are closely related according to HLA Nei DA genetic distances and other HLA traits: they built up Tiwanaku culture, which resembles that of Easter Island (i.e.: similar giant heads); later, Quechuas also moved to Cuzco. This genetic reletedness together with Easter Island and Titikaka Lake Tiwanaku (Bolivia, Peru) cultural common similarities support a prehistoric Pacific people/Amerindians gene flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]