Frequency of HLA Alleles in a Cohort of 100 Romanian Late-Life Adults: An Academic Insight into Genetic Longevity

The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system plays a crucial role in regulating the immune response and is significant in organ transplantation, disease association studies, and population genetics. But does it influence longevity? The present study aims to explore the frequency of HLA alleles in a cohort of 100 individuals in the 65-90 age bracket from Romania, providing insights into genetic diversity and potential implications in longevity. High-resolution HLA typing was performed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, allowing for precise identification of HLA alleles with a high degree of accuracy. The results reveal significant genetic diversity within the cohort, with prevalent alleles such as HLA-A*02:01:01:01, HLA-B*08:01:01:01, and DRB1*01:01:01:01 potentially influencing disease susceptibility and longevity. The study reveals the genetic diversity of HLA alleles in elderly Romanians, highlighting prevalent alleles that could be linked to longevity and disease resistance. Different results from previous research are attributed to the high-resolution analysis and small cohort size. Further studies with larger samples are needed to confirm findings and uncover their implications for healthy aging and healthcare.