HLA-DRB1 polymorphism is associated with Kell immunisation

K immunisation is observed in some polytransfused patients and pregnant women but does not occur in all cases of K incompatibility. This study analysed the role of genetic background in this selective response to K antigen by investigating HLA-DRB1 alleles associated with K immunisation in a southern European population. HLA-DRB1 genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction sequence-specific oligonucleotide/sequence-specific primer procedures in 54 K immunised patients and 200 healthy controls. The frequency of HLA-DRB1*11 was significantly higher in K immunised patients than healthy controls: 31 of 54 (57%) vs. 56 of 200 (28%) (P(c) < 0.001). In the remaining K immunised HLA-DRB1*11-negative patients, the frequency of HLA-DRB1*13 was increased: 14 of 23 (61%) vs. 49 of 144 in healthy controls (34%) (P < 0.02). The combined frequency of the two HLA-DRB1 alleles (HLA-DRB1*11 and HLA-DRB1*13) was 83% in K immunised patients when compared with 52% in healthy controls (P(c) < 0.001). K and k differ by a single amino acid T193 (M). The DRB1*11 and DRB1*13 alleles share a HLA-DRB1 gene sequence containing S in position 13, D in 70 and A in 74, and coding for the P4 pocket within the HLA-DR binding groove. This feature of the HLA-DRB1 gene could be involved in the K peptide presentation through a polymorphism ligand specific for the T193 (M) of K. In conclusion, this study demonstrated a high frequency of HLA-DRB1*11 or HLA-DRB1*13 alleles in K immunised patients, which could be due to specific K peptide presentation by HLA-DR molecules.