Molecular basis of D variants between Uigur and Han blood donors in Xinjiang

The D antigen is the most antigenic in the Rh blood group system. Variation in the D antigen may have the potential to cause alloimmunization. D variant may have different molecular backgrounds in people of different ethnic groups. The aim of this study was to investigate serological and molecular differences related to the D antigen among Chinese ethnic groups. Blood samples of six different races in Xinjiang were screened for D variants using serological test. The suspected D variants were further analyzed by using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing to determine the RHD genotype. Fourteen D elute phenotypes (DELs), included 11 Han, 2 Uigur and 1 Hui, were detected together with two weak Ds, one in the Han and one in the Uigur. The 14 DELs possessed the RHD (K409K) allele. The weak D found in the Han was of type 15, but the Uigur phenotype was of weak D type 5. Our results suggest that the Uigur population has both Han and Caucasian characteristics in the Rh blood group system, but the RHD genotypes of other minorities settled in China need to be further studied. A different strategy for Rh typing based on ethnic specificity should be used to detect D variants.