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JAL (RH48) blood group antigen: serologic observations
Christine Lomas-Francis1, Denden Alcantara, Connie Westhoff
1Laboratory of Immunohematology, New York Blood Center, 310 East 67th Street, New York, NY 10065, USA.
Transfusion
|February 5, 2009
Summary
The JAL antigen in the Rh blood group system weakens other Rh antigens and can cause hemolytic disease of the newborn. A new antibody, anti-CEST, recognizes the antigen opposite to JAL.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Hematology
- Genetics
Background:
- The JAL (RH48) antigen is a low-prevalence Rh blood group antigen associated with hemolytic disease of the newborn.
- JAL is linked to haplotypes with depressed C/e or c/e antigens.
- Previous studies indicated JAL's association with specific Rh haplotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To confirm and extend serologic findings for JAL+ individuals.
- To characterize Rh antigen expression in JAL+ persons.
- To report antibody specificities in sensitized JAL+ individuals.
Main Methods:
- Hemagglutination testing of red blood cell (RBC) samples from 17 JAL+ individuals.
- Standard serologic methods were employed.
- Analysis included expression of various Rh antigens.
Main Results:
- Caucasian JAL+ probands exhibited the (C)(e) haplotype with weakened C, e, hr(B), and hr(S) antigens.
- Black JAL+ individuals showed the (c)(e) haplotype with weakened c, e, f, V, VS, hr(B), and hr(S) antigens.
- Plasma from sensitized JAL+ individuals contained alloanti-c, alloanti-e, or an antibody recognizing the high-prevalence antigen CEST, antithetical to JAL.
Conclusions:
- JAL antigen presence quantitatively weakens specific Rh antigens based on ethnicity.
- Qualitative effects include alloanti-c or alloanti-e in transfused patients.
- An antibody, anti-CEST, recognizes the JAL antithetical antigen, providing further characterization of the JAL system.
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