Recognition of HLA-A*0248 in a Chinese donor

HLA-A*0248, a rare allele originally found in an individual of Filipino background, was detected in a Chinese donor. We confirmed the novel sequence and analysed its serological reaction pattern. The exon 2 sequence of A*0248 was apparently generated in a gene conversion event with an A2 gene, receiving a sequence segment comprising codons 56 to 74 from an A*24 donor gene. Serological typing showed a clear-cut A2 reaction pattern, indicating that the three amino acid positions 62, 65 and 74, are probably not a critical part of the A2 epitope. Our typing experience also demonstrated that different typing technologies often complement each other in fine HLA typing.