Recently, the research group led by Xi Yongzhi, director of the immunology laboratory of the PLA's 307 Hospital, discovered a new allele of human leucocyte antigen (HLA), which was formally named as A: 110104 by the Committee of HLA of the World Health Organization.

HLA allele discovery and identification are currently hot topics in international HLA research. Because this new gene appeared in two different ancestries in two provinces, it has more application value.

The more frequently the HLA gene appears in the public, the more value it has. The value of this newly discovered allele is exactly its significant frequency and universality among Chinese people and its consequent applicability. The discovery will help improve the matching accuracy of transplant organs and hematopoietic stem cells and help prevent transplant rejection and prolong the patient's life.

For China in particular, as the country enters a single child era and non-kinship transplant cases increase rapidly, the discovery is very helpful in matching organ donors and recipients. Meanwhile, the new allele can be widely used in forensic and anthropological researches.

(chinanews January 6, 2005)