Chapter 7 Other Blood Group Systems, HLA, and Platelet Antigens Flashcards
What can make a clinically significant antibody significant?
- Ones that can cause hemolytic transfusion reactions or HDFN (IgG)
- Cause interference in lab testing (IgM)
- Form due to naturally occurring substances in the environment (IgM) (without exposure to foreign RBCs)
There may be other reasons.
What are the two major antigens in the Kell Blood Group System? What is the gene behavior?
2 major antigens
K (KEL1): ~9% of the population
k (KEL2/Cellano): more than 99.8% of the population
The K and k antigens are antithetical (co-dominant)
Note: The names of the antigens in brackets are old terms. You may encounter them but K and k are the proper names now.
Does someone have the Kell antigens at birth?
Yes, they are well developed at birth.
What is 2nd to D antigen for being immunogenic and stimulating antibody production?
K (KEL1) antigen is very immunogenic (second to the D antigen).
How many K antigens per positive red cell are there?
3500 to 18000 K antigens / positive red cell
Where is the Kell antigens on the RBC?
Kell antigens are integral part of the RBC membrane.
How do enzymes affect Kell antigens?
No effect when treated with enzymes.
What are Kell antigens sensitive to and why?
Sensitive to sulfhydryl reagents because Kell antigens have disulfide-bonded regions on the glycoproteins.
Examples of these reagents are:
2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME)
Dithiothreitol (DTT)
2-aminoethylisothiouronium bromide (AET)
What are other antithetical Kell antigens in the Kell system and frequency in the population?
Kp antigens
Kpa is a low-frequency antigen (only 2%)
Kpb is a high-frequency antigen (99.9%)
Js antigens
Jsa (20% in blacks, 0.1% in Caucasians)
Jsb is a high-frequency antigen (80% to 100%)
Note: a and b are superscripts for Kp and Js.
What is the K_0 or Kell_null phenotype? What is the result of that type?
- Lacks all Kell system antigens (K0K0)
- Expresses related Kx antigen
- As a result of RBC immune stimulation, K_0 individuals can develop anti-Ku
- Ku is on RBCs that have Kell antigens
What are the high and low incidence alleles on the Kell gene?
High-incidence alleles:
k, Kpb, Jsb, and KEL11
Low-incidence alleles:
K, Kpa, Jsa, KEL17
What chromosome is the Kell genes located on?
Chromosome 7
What type of immunoglobulin is stimulated by Kell antigen exposure?
IgG, RBC stimulated from transfusion or pregnancy.
Do Kell antigens bind complement?
No
Which procedure do Kell antigens agglutinate best in the lab?
Indirect antiglobulin Test (IAT)
What are the most common/rare antibodies developed to the Kell antigens?
Anti-K is the most common; anti-k is extremely rare
How is the Kx antigen phenotypically related to the Kell system?
Kell glycoprotein is covalently linked to Kx. Absence of Kx antigen weakens the expression of Kell antigen.
Where is the Kx antigen gene located?
X chromosome
What levels of Kx antigens do people who are Kell_null have?
Kell_null individuals have elevated levels of Kx antigen.
What problems do people have who lack the Kx antigen?
Individuals who lack Kx antigen may demonstrate RBC abnormalities (McLeod phenotype).
What is McLeod Syndrome and symptoms?
- McLeod phenotype is attributed to McLeod Syndrome. Seen in males as it is inherited on the X chromosome
- McLeod Syndrome symptoms:
a) RBC abnormalities,
b) Muscular and neurologic defects
c) Increased creatine kinase
What disease is associated with McLeod Syndrome?
Chronic Granulomatous Disease with impaired phagocytosis such that WGCs engulf but cannot kill.
What chromosome are the Duffy blood group system genes on?
Chromosome 1
Are Duffy Blood group system antigens well developed at birth?
Yes
How many antigens are in the Duffy blood group system?
5 antigens (glycoproteins)
What are the 2 main antigens in the Duffy blood group system?
Main 2 are Fy_a and Fy_b
Most important for transfusion purposes
Codominant alleles
Demonstrate dosage
Are Duffy Blood Group System antigens destroyed by proteolytic enzymes? Give examples?
Yes, destroyed by proteolytic enzymes (papain or ficin)
What effect do enzymes in general terms have on red cell antigens?
Enzyme Effect – enzymes can destroy some red cell antigens making it impossible for an antibody to agglutinate with it. Other antigens may be more exposed causing it to have stronger reactions.
What are some common enzymes used in the transfusion labs?
Enzyme that are often used are ficin (from fig plants), Papain (from papaya), and Bromelin (from pineapples)
How do you record the phenotype in the Duffy BG System?
For example if Anti-Fy_a reaction is positive and Anti-Fy_b reaction is negative the phenotype is Fy(a+b-).
Fy(a+b-) homozygous for Fya
Fy(a-b+) homozygous for Fyb
Fy(a+b+) heterozygous
Fy(a-b-)
How does the phenotype Fy(a-b-) help people in malaria invested regions?
Certain malarial parasites (Plasmodium knowlesi and Plasmodium vivax) will not invade Fy(a–) and Fy(b–) negative cells
Not resistant to Plasmodium falciparum.
Fya or Fyb acts as a receptor for the merozoite to attach to the RBC.
What population most frequently has the Fy(a-b-) phenotype?
Most African Americans are Fy(a–b–)
People from West and Central Africa.
What type of immunoglobulin are the anti-Fy_a and anti-Fy_b? Optimal Temp and Reactive Phase?
IgG, 37°C, IAT
How does someone get Duffy antibodies?
Stimulated by transfusion or pregnancy
Therefore clinically significant.
Do Duffy antibodies react with enzyme treated RBCs?
Do not react with enzyme-treated RBCs.
This can be very helpful when trying to determine the identification of an antibody
Antigens are destroyed by enzymes
What is the more common Duffy antibody?
Anti-Fya is more common than anti-Fyb
What antigens are in the Kidd BGS?
3 antigens: Jka, Jkb, and Jk3
Jk3 is present whenever Jka and/or Jkb are present
Where are the Kidd_null phenotypes seen and what antibody may they produce?
Kidd null phenotypes: Jk(a–b–)
Usually seen in individuals from the Far East or Pacific Islands (rare)
May produce anti-Jk3 antibody
What compound is Kidd_null phenotype resistant to? What RBC function is related to that?
RBCs are resistant to 2 M urea
Serve urea transport function in RBCs
When are the Kidd BGS antigens well developed on the RBCs?
Antigens are well developed at birth
Do Kidd antigens show dosage?
Yes
What is the effect of enzymes on Kidd antigens?
Enhanced by enzymes
Note: Not ranked high in terms of red cell immunogenicity
Which Kidd BGS phenotype is extremely rare?
Jk(a-b-)
What makes Kidd BGS antibodies clinically significant?
Implicated in HTRs and HDFN (not severe)
Common cause of delayed HTRs
What type of immunoglobulin are the Kidd BGS antibodies? Optimal Temp and Reactive Phase?
IgG, 37°C, IAT
Do Kidd BGS antibodies bind complement?
Yes
How are detection of Kidd BGS antibodies aided?
Usually appear with other antibodies when detected
Detection is aided by enzymes (enhanced)
Do Kidd BGS antigens show dosage? Impact on testing?
Shows dosage - May only see agglutination with homozygous cells.
Why may Kidd BGS antibodies get missed during testing? Impact on patient?
- Levels decline in vivo, may not detect if titre is very low
- Levels drop quickly in vitro, as well
- Do not store well
- May get missed - This is why they can cause delayed HTR’s (delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions).
Where are the Lutheran Blood Group system antigens expressed?
Weakly expressed on cord blood cells
What is the general frequency of occurrence of the Lutheran Blood Group system?
Most are high or low-incidence antigens; antibodies are rare
What are the primary antigens and most common/rare phenotype in the Lutheran BGS?
Primary antigens include Lua and Lub
92.4% Lu(a–b+)
7.4% Lu(a+b+)
0.2% Lu(a+b–)
Lu_null phenotype is rare, inherited recessively