Transcript rarely

Other Blood
Groups
Lewis, Kell, Duffy,
Kidd, Ii, MNSs & P
Introduction

Over 500 blood group antigens

“High incidence”, “public” or “high
frequency” antigens are those present on
almost every person’s red blood cells

“Low incidence”, “private” or “low
frequency” antigens are present on very,
very few individuals red blood cells
Introduction

Each known antigen initially identified
through the detection of its specific
antibody in the serum.

Knowledge of serologic behavior and
characteristics of blood group antibodies is
CRITICAL for identification
Introduction

Essential when evaluating antibody screen
and panel studies.

Considerations given to:

Phase of reactivity

Antibody class involved

Ability to cause HDFN and HTR
Major Blood Group Systems

Lewis

I

P

MNSs

Kell

Kidd

Duffy
Lewis System

Major antigens Lea and Leb , other
antigens include Lec, Led and Lex

Antigens ARE NOT intrinsic to RBCs but
are absorbed from the plasma and
inserted into RBC membrane.
Lewis System


Antigenic Development

Genetic control reside in single gene “Le”

Amorph le, if homozygous will not have Lewis antigens

Lea formed first, then modified to form Leb which is
adsorbed preferentially over Lea
Lewis phenotype of RBC can be changed by
incubating with plasma containing Lea or Leb
glycoplipid.
Lewis System
Lewis Phenotypes and Their Frequencies
White
Black
Le (a+b-)
22%
23%
Le (a-b+)
72%
55%
Le (a-b-)
6%
22%
Le (a+b+)
Rare
rare
Lewis System

Lewis antigens in infants

Antigens absent or extremely weak at birth

Expression of Leb gradual

Birth Le (a-b-)

2 months Le(a+b-)

12 to 18 months Le(a+b+)

2 to 3 years Le (a-b+)
Lewis System

Lewis antigens and pregnancy

Antigen strength may decline dramatically

Transiently Le (a-b-) may produce Lewis
antibodies during pregnancy

Antigens return after delivery and antibodies
disappear
Lewis System

Interaction of Le, Se and H Genes

lele will not have Lewis antigens, but if Se
present will have A, B and H in secrections

Genotype se/se and have one Lewis antigen
will have Lea in their secretions but no A, B or
H.
Lewis System
Lewis Phenotype ABH Secretor
Lewis Secretor
Le (a+b-)
All ABH NON-Secretors
All Lea Secretors
Le (a-b+)
All ABH secretors
All secretors of Lea and
Leb
Le (a-b-)
80% ABH secretors
NONE
20% ABH NON secretors
Lewis System

Lewis Antibodies

Almost always IgM, react strongly at RT, may
cause ABO discrepancy if reverse cells have
Lewis antigen.

Occur almost exclusively in Le (a-b-) and
production of anti-Lea AND –Leb not unusual

Anti-Lea frequently encountered, anti-Leb
rarely encountered.
Lewis System

Lewis Antibodies

Although most react at RT reactivity may be seen at
37C, but is weaker and may be weakly reactive at AHG

Can bind complement and cause IN-VITRO hemolysis,
most often with enzyme treated cells

Because antibodies are IgM and antigens are poorly
developed at birth antibodies NOT implicated in HDFN.
Lewis System

Lewis antibodies

Can be neutralized in-vitro by additions of
Lewis Substance



Le antigens are present in secretions
Add to serum with Lewis antibodies and the
antibodies will be bound to the soluble Lewis antigens
Useful when multiple antibodies are present and 1 is
a Lewis, eliminates the activity of the antibody
Lewis Antibodies

Anti-Le a, Anti-Le b, Anti-Lex

Most react at room temperature or below -

Often fix complement

Some in vitro hemolysis

Le a may cause HTR
Lewis Antibodies

Anti-Le a

Found in Lea-b- secretors

best room temperature or below

Often fix complement

Some in vitro hemolysis

Le a may cause HTR
Lewis Antibodies

Anti-Le b

Often found with Anti-Lea

Most react at room temperature or below

Two types - Anti-LebH and Anti-LebL

Rare cause of HTR
Lewis Antibodies

Anti-Lex

Most react at room temperature or below -

Reacts with both Lea and Leb as a single
antibody
Lewis Antibodies

Special Problems in the Blood Bank

Lewis antigens may be weaker during pregnancy and
women produce antibodies

Can neutralize Lewis antibodies with Lewis plasma

Pregnant woman with room temperature antibodies,
neutralize with Lewis antigen when testing for HDN
antibodies
Lewis System

Transfusion Practice

Transfused RBCs will acquire the Lewis phenotype of the
recipient within a few days

Lewis antibodies in patient will be neutralized by Lewis
substance in donor plasma

Lewis antibodies rarely cause in-vivo hemolysis

It is not necessary to phenotype donors for Lewis
antigens prior to transfusion, give crossmatch
compatible
The Kell Blood Group
System
Background information

The Kell blood group system was
discovered in 1946.

Number of Kell antigens: > 20

These antigens are the third most potent,
after those of the ABO and Rh blood
groups, at triggering an immune reaction.
Molecular information

The KEL gene is found on chromosome 7

The KEL gene is highly polymorphic, with
different alleles at this locus encoding the
25 antigens that define the Kell blood
group.

The Kell protein is a polypeptide chain of
732 amino acids in length that becomes
glycosylated at five different sites. It
makes a single pass through the RBC
membrane.
Kell Blood Group System

XK gene produces Kx substance, which is a
precursor of of Kell Ags

Kel genes convert Kx substance into the Kell Ags
on RBCs

K (Kell) & k (cellano) are produced by allelic
genes, this results into 3 phenotypes:




K+k- (genotype KK)
K+k+ (genotype Kk)
K-k+ (genotype kk)
Other allelic genes include: Kpa/Kpb, Jsa/Jsb
XK Gene (Chromosome X)
KEL Gene
RBC
Kx
Kell system glycoprotein:
Kell Ag’s reside here.
Frequency of Kell phenotypes
Phenotype
Caucasians
Blacks
K-k+
91 %
98 %
K+k-
0.2 %
Rare
K+k+
8.8
2
Kx Substance

Kx substance is present on RBCs & WBCs

Kell genes convert Kx substance into the Kell Ags
on RBCs

Kell genes do not convert Kx on WBCs
McLeod Phenotype

Absence of Kx proteins in
RBCs membrane lead to
McLeod Phenotype

This absence cause:


abnormal RBCs shape
(acanthocytes)
& reduced in-vivo survival
Chronic Granulomatous Disease

Absence of Kx proteins in WBCs cause
CGD

Leukocytes are able to phagocytose but
not to kill bacteria

Patients with CGD have recurrent bacterial
infections

Patients who lack Kx on RBCs & WBCs
have both Mcleod and CGD
Kell Antibodies

K- individuals produce anti-K when
exposed to K+ cells


Frequency of K+ is low (9%), easy to find
blood
On the other hand frequency of k is
99.9%

k- individuals produce anti-k when exposed to
k+ cells

Difficult to find blood
Antibodies produced against Kell antigens
Kell Abs
Clinically
Significant
Abs class
Yes
IgG (rarely) IgM
Thermal range
HDNB
4 - 37
Yes
Transfusion Reactions
Extravascular
Intravascular
Yes
Rare
Duffy Blood Group
System
Duffy Blood Group System

The Duffy blood group was discovered in 1950.

The Duffy glycoprotein is encoded by the FY gene,
found on chromosome 1 , of which there are two
main alleles, FYA and FYB. They are codominant.

The Duffy gene codes for a glycoprotein also found
in other tissues: brain, kidney, spleen, heart and
lung.

The Duffy glycoprotein is a transmembrane protein

Five alleles at Duffy locus, the most important:
Fya, Fyb & Fy (Silent Allele)

Fya is more immunogenic than Fyb
Duffy Antigens

Phenotype Frequencies
Blacks
Phenotype
Caucasians %
Fy (a+b+)
49
2
Fy (a+b-)
18
14
Fy (a-b+)
33
19
Fy (a-b-)
rare
65
%
Different genes

Fy(a-b-) blacks do not produce anti-Fya or
anti-Fyb following transfusion with Fy(a+)
or Fy(b+) blood

Fy(a-b-) Caucasians become sensitized
following transfusion with Fy(a+) or
Fy(b+) blood

This suggest that Fy(a-b-) phenotype
arises from different genes in the two
populations
Duffy Antigens

Fya, Fyb antigens are Destroyed by enzymes

Abs DO NOT agglutinate enzyme treated cells

Moderately immunogenic

Fya is more immunogenic than Fyb
Duffy Antibodies


IgG antibodies and
can activate
complement
Anti- Fya is more
frequently encountered

Anti- Fyb is more
frequently found in
patients produced
multiple alloantibodies
Duffy Abs
Clinically
Significant
Abs class
Yes
IgG
Thermal range
HDNB
4 - 37
Yes
Transfusion Reactions
Extravascular
Intravascular
Yes
Yes
Duffy and Malaria


Black people with the Duffy phenotype of Fy(a–b–)
appear to have resistance to Plasmodium vivax &
Plasmodium knowlesi causative agents of Malaria.

Duffy antigens appear to be a receptor for the P. vivax
organism and when the antigen is not present on the red
blood cell membrane P. vivax is unable to access the red
blood cell

Some area’s of West Africa are 100% Fy(a–b–).
Plasmodium falciparum binds to RBCs at integral
glycophorin A & B
Duffy and Malaria
Kidd Blood Group System
Kidd Blood Group System

The Kidd blood group was discovered in 1950.

The Kidd gene is located on chromosome 18

Three alleles: Jka, Jkb, Jk


Codominant Inheritance

Jk is a silent allele (amorph)
The Kidd protein is an integral protein of the RBC
membrane.
Kidd Phenotype Frequencies
Phenotype
Caucasians (%)
Jk (a+ b-)
29
Jk (a+ b+)
49
Jk (a- b+)
22
Jk (a- b-)
Exceedingly rare
(COMMON IN FILIPINOS)
Phenotype Frequencies
What is the purpose of learning the phenotype
frequencies of each blood group antigen?
–
When crossmatches are required it helps the Tech know
how many units to crossmatch or antigen type to find
compatible blood.
If a patient has anti-Jka antibody how many RBC units need to
be antigen typed to find 2 compatible units?
78% of the population is positive for the antigen therefore 22%
are NEGATIVE for the antigen. Approximately 2 out of 10
units are compatible. Need to antigen type 10 units.
Kidd Antigens & Antibodies



Ags are well developed at birth
Have tendency to drop to low or undetectable levels
following formation.
Abs are of IgG type & can activate complement
(Anti-Jka, Anti-Jkb )

Produced following transfusion or pregnancy

Can cause HDNB

They are also a very common cause of delayed HTRs
KID ANTIBODY
Ii Blood Group

Found nearly on all RBCS

Their products are transferase enzymes
that attach repeating units of Gal and
GlcNAc to the ABO Precursor Substance.

Big I gene codes for branching of the
Precursor Substance.
Ii Antigens

Little i antigen is LINEAR


Big I antigen is BRANCHED


Found on cord cells, predominantly
Gradually convert from i to I during the
first 18 months of life. Not all i converted
to I, some i still present on adult cells,
normally.
Rare adult individuals termed iadult do
not express i Ag on their red cells


The I and i antigen sites are considered
uncompleted ABH active chains.
When ABH are removed from RBCs more I Ags
are expressed

I structure located beneath the ABH Ags
I Antibodies: Anti-I




Anti-I is naturally
occurring often due to a
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
infection
Anti-I reacts with all
adult cells (including
patient’s own, all
reagent cells, all donor
cells)
Anti-I does not react
with cord cells
Auto-anti-I is a common
“cold agglutinin”
Anti-I Abs
Clinically
Significant
Abs class
Rare
IgM
Thermal
range
HDNB
4 - 10
No
Transfusion Reactions
Extravascular
Intravascular
No
rare
Antii Antibodies
 Antii
is rarely found in healthy
individuals

Reacts preferably with cord cells

anti-i can be found secondary to
Infectious Mononucleosis.

Transient: Only present with active disease
MNSs Blood Group System

The antigens M and N are produced by
co-dominant alleles

closely linked to the S and s genes,
which are also co-dominant.

Chromosome 4 contains these linked
genes

Genes produce two distinct
glycophorins or sialyglycoproteins
(SGP) on the RBC membrane.
MN Genetics


MN Locus genes produce Glycophorin A
(GPA)

M-GPA’s 1st five aa’s = Serine-Ser-Thr-ThrGlycine

N-GPA’s 1st five aa’s = Leucine-Ser-Thr-ThrGlutamic acid

Amino acids (aa) 2, 3 & 4 are the same for both
Glycophorin A (GPA) is a glycoprotein also known
as MN-sialoglycoprotein
MN Genetics
MN Genotypes & Phenotypes
Phenotype
Genotype
Frequency %
M+N-
MM
30
M+N+
MN
50
M-N+
NN
20
MNSs Antigens
M
Glycophorin A
N
M & N only differ in
their amino acid
sequence at positions
1 and 5
RBC
Glycophorin B
COOH end …..
U
S
s
….5, 4, 3, 2, 1 (NH2 end)
S & s only differ in
their amino acid
sequence at position
29
Ss Genetics
Ss genes code for the production of
Glycophorin B(GPB)
 S glycophorin B has Methionine at aa
position 29
 s glycophorin B has Threonine at aa
position 29
 Glycophorin B (GPB) is a glycoprotein also
known as Ss-sialoglyprotein

Ss Genotypes & Phenotypes
Phenotype
Genotype
S+s-
Frequency %
Caucasians
Blacks
SS
11
6
S+s+
Ss
44
24
S-s+
ss
45
68
S-s-
Susu
0
2
•
U antigen is a high incident antigen NOT seen in individuals who
lack both S and s antigens.
•
Individuals who lack this antigen (<1%) have a high likelihood of
forming anti-U as well as anti-S and anti-s.
Rare Alleles

Rare low incidence alleles found on MN
locus

Some may result from crossing over of
genes of glycophorin A & B

Such crossing over results in hybrid
sialoglycoproteins
Anti-M Antibodies
Anti-M Abs

Variability of reactivity
(Dosage)


Strong reactions with
RBCs homozygous for
MM
Weak reactions with
RBCs heterozygous MN
Clinically
Significant
Abs class
Seldom
IgG & IgM
Thermal
range
HDNB
4 – 22
rare
Rare 22-37
Transfusion Reactions
Extravascular
Intravascular
Rare
No
Anti-N antibodies
Anti-N Abs
• Naturally occurring
cold agglutinin
• Can form in patients
with renal Failure
• During dialysis with
formaldehyde
sterilized equipment
• Formaldehyde may
alter the N Ag
structure making it
appear foreign
Clinically
Significant
Abs class
IgM
No
Thermal
range
HDNB
No
4 - 22
Transfusion Reactions
Extravascular Intravascular
No
No
Anti-S and Anti-s antibodies
Anti-S Abs
Clinically
Significant
Abs class
IgG & IgM
Sometimes
Thermal
range
Anti-s Abs
Clinically
Significant
Abs class
IgG
Yes
HDNB
Yes
4 - 37
Thermal
range
HDNB
Yes
4 - 37
Transfusion Reactions
Transfusion Reactions
Extravascul
ar
Intravascula
r
Extravascul
ar
Intravascula
r
Yes
No
Yes
No
P Blood Group System

Genetics: These genes code for enzymes
that sequentially add sugars to precursor
substance.

This system is related to the ABO, Le and
Ii systems.

Genes: P1, Pk, P and lower case p (silent
allele)

All antigens are expressed on glycolipids
on red cells
Phenotypes, Detectable Antigens &
Frequencies
Phenotype
Detectable
Antigens
Frequencies
P1
P1, P
79%
P2
P
21%
Pk1
P, Pk
Rare
Pk2
Pk
Rare
p
N/A
Rare
Whites %
•Pk is the precursor of P.
•Rare individuals do not convert Pk into P.
•Those will have Pk on RBCs.
Anti-P1 Antibodies
Naturally occcurring
Abs found in the
serum of P2
Individuals
Anti-P1 Abs
Clinically
Significant
Abs class
IgM
occasionally
Thermal
range
HDNB
NO
4 – 22
Rare 22-37
Transfusion Reactions
Extravascular Intravascular
No
Rare
Anti-P1 Antibodies
Allo Anti-P Antibodies
Naturally occcurring
Abs found in the
serum of Pk and p
Individuals
Allo Anti-P Abs
Clinically
Significant
Abs class
Yes
Rare IgG
Thermal
range
HDNB
IgM
Rare
4 – 37S
Transfusion Reactions
Extravascular Intravascular
No
Yes
Auto anti-P Antibodies


It is an IgG biphasic Ab
associated with
Paroxysmal Cold
Hemoglobinuria (PCH)
Binds complement at
cold temperatures and
activates that
complement in warm
temperatures lysing the
red blood cells.
Auto Anti-P Abs
Clinically
Significant
Abs class
IgG
Yes
Biphasic
HDNB
Binds at 0
Rare
Hemolysis 37
Transfusion Reactions
Extravascular
Intravascular
Rare
Yes
Anti Tja Antibodies

Combination of anti-P, anti-P1 & anti-Pk

Found in serum of individuals who have
no P, P1 & Pk Ags on red cells
RARE BLOOD GROUPS
REMEMBER THAT !!!!!