An accurate genetic assay to identify human neutrophil antigen 2 deficiency

We aimed to develop accurate and user-friendly genetic assays to identify the inherited neutrophil antigen-2 (HNA-2) deficiency in humans.

HNA-2 is one of the most important neutrophil antigens implicated in a number of human disorders. HNA-2 deficiency or HNA-2 null is a common phenotype observed in 3%-5% Americans. HNA-2 null individuals are at risk to produce isoantibodies (or alloantibodies) that play important roles in transfusion-related acute lung injury, immune neutropenia, and bone marrow graft failure. We previously demonstrated that the CD177 coding SNP 787A > T (c.787A > T) is the most important genetic determinant for HNA-2 deficiency. However, reliable genetic assays are not available for routine clinical laboratory application up to now.

A novel polymerase chain reaction (PCR) strategy was used to determine genotypes of the CD177 SNP c.787A > T. In the simplified PCR assay, all allele specific primers and internal control primers were included in the same reaction, which ensures reliability of the assay. In addition, a novel high-throughput nested TaqMan assay was developed to determine genotypes of c.787A > T for large population genetic analysis of HNA-2 deficiency.

CD177 SNP c787A > T genotypes of 396 subjects were 100% concordant among the single PCR reaction method, the nested TaqMan assay, and Sanger Sequencing analysis. Out of 396 subjects, all 18 donors with the CD177 STP homozygous genotype were HNA-2 null.

The novel PCR-based genotyping assay is accurate to identify HNA-2 deficient individuals and is suitable for clinical laboratories. In addition, the innovative high-throughput nested TaqMan assay will be useful for large-scale population screens and genetic studies of HNA-2 deficiency.