Major Blood Group Systems Dependent on AHG Flashcards
What three blood group systems were discovered because of the IAT antiglobulin test
Kell
Duffy
Kidd
These are known as the ‘Big 3’
They are the most clinically significant after ABO and Rh
When was the IAT discovered?
1946
Why are Duffy, Kidd and Kell clinically significant?
They can all interact with complement
Duffy can also cause HDFN
Disovery of the Kell Blood group system
(5)
First defining antigen of the Kell Blood Group was discovered in 1946 (same year as IAT) by an antibody in the serum of a Mrs Kelleher
It was discovered by Lancer; Coombs, Mourant and Race
It was found that she had an antibody which reacted with her husbands, her daughters and newborns red blood cells
Her antibody also reacted with 9% of a random population -> antibody against antigen called K (K1)
In 1949 (3 yrs later) the allelic partner/corresponding antigen k (K2) was discovered
Origin of the Kell Blood group system
(5)
First defining antigen of the Kell Blood Group was discovered in 1946 (same year as IAT) by an antibody in the serum of a Mrs Kelleher
It was discovered by Lancer; Coombs, Mourant and Race
It was found that she had an antibody which reacted with her husbands, her daughters and newborns red blood cells
Her antibody also reacted with 9% of a random population -> antibody against antigen called K (K1)
In 1949 (3 yrs later) the allelic partner/corresponding antigen k (K2) was discovered
When was the K antigen discovered, when was k discovered?
K was discovered in 1946 in a Mrs Kellaher by Lancet; Coombs, Mourant and Race
k was disocvered in 1949
What are the four most common Kell antigens?
K (K1)
k (K2)
Kpa
Jsa
What is an anti-k antibody known as and why?
This is known as Cellano as it was found in a Ms. Cellano
Why is a Cellano difficult to work up and why?
An anti-k will usually cause a pan reactive panel
This is because 99.8% of the population are either Kk or kk
-> only 0.2% of people are KK => panreactive panel as we rarely get K- cells as part of our screen
It just means it can be more difficult to rule out other antibodies, might have to elute of anti-k etc etc
What chromosome is Kell located on?
Chromosome 7
Why did Ms Kellaher’s anti-K react with 9% of red cells?
This is because:
- 8.8% of people are Kk and 0.2% of people are KK
=> 9% of people have a K which her antibody would react against
What is the percentage of each Kell phenotype?
91% are kk (K/Kell negative)
8.8% are Kk
0.2% are KK
How immunogenic is K antigen?
1 in 10 produce an antibody if exposed to K antigen
-> since 90% of people are K- this can be seen
There are many reports of anti-K in transfused patients and multiparous women
Hence why women get K- blood in ireland
How many antigens are there in the Kell system, why so many?
There are 27 antigens total
Due to multiple allelic system giving rise to antithetical antigens
There is actualy so many possible combinations that not all possible genotypes have been found yet e.g. Kpa and Jsa have occured on separate chromosomes in patient but never on the one gene
What Kell antigens are found in nearly 100% of people?
k, Kpb and Jsb are found in nearly everyone
What are the 11 Kell antigens you need to be concerned with?
K and k
Kpa, Kpb and Kpc (Kpa most common in caucasions)
Jsa and Jsb (Jsa in Blacks)
K11 and K17
K14 and K24
What Kell phenotype will any Kpa+ be?
They will all be k+
i.e. Kpa+ only occurs in k+
Why might it be that weve never recorded a Kpa and Jsa on the same chromosome?
This is because Kpa is predominantly found in whites (2.3% of caucasians)
While Jsa is found in predominantly blacks (20%)
Other than Kpa and Jsa what is another Kell group antigen combination that has never been recorded, white might this be?
K and Kpa
Might be due to the realtively low frequency of both antigens
Only (9% of people have a K and only 2.3% of people have a Jsa)
What is the Kell null state?
Ko
This is due to a lack of K gene or Kx gene (covalently bonded on rbc surface)
They produce an anti-Ku
Describe the Kell glycoprotein, how does it express the antigens, what protein
A 93kD transmembrane, single-pass protein which carries the Kell antigens
It is an endothelin-3-converting enzyme
The Kell antigens are expressed in Low Desnity on the cell
What is the function of Kell glycoprotein?
(3)
It is an endothelin-3-converting enzyme
It cleaves an inactive precursor called big-endothelin-3 to create active endothelin-3
This is a potent constrictor of blood vessels
What kind of antigen is both Kell and Kx?
They are both glycoproteins (different though)
Kell is a single pass while Kx is a multipass (passes membrane 10 times)
What treatments can affect Kell antigen expression?
Daratumumab and ZAP
-> No K expression after dara treatment - hence ehy typing is required before starting treatment
What treatments can affect Kell antigen expression?
Daratumumab and ZAP
-> No K expression after dara treatment - hence ehy typing is required before starting treatment
What method is in place to negate daratumumab interference?
Send sample to IBTS for DTT treatment -> negates DARA interference
What chromosome is Kx antigen encoded on?
X chromosome - hence why its called Kx
What chromosome is Kx antigen encoded on?
X chromosome - hence why its called Kx
What can affect the Kell glycoprotein, how does this affect it?
Thiol degradation of double disulphide bonds (s-s-disulphide bonds)
These are needed for structural integrity
But this fact can be used in serologica investigations e.g. where there is an anti-K and an anti-Fya
-> it means we can remove Kell antigens if we need to investigate other antibodies
What are three methods of thiol degradation that can be used on Kell antigens?
DTT
ZZAP
AET
What are three methods of thiol degradation that can be used on Kell antigens?
DTT
ZZAP
AET
When might thiol degradation of Kell be needed?
If we have an anti-k -> we rarely will have an anti-K well rarely have a K- cell to use in panel -> often pan reactive
To rule out any other antibodies we can treat the red cells with a thiol degradation method - we can then rerun the panel to check for other antibodies
What is the molecular basis of the K and k antigens?
k and K are the two major codominant alleles
They result from a SNP (698C ->T)
The corresponding k and K antigens differ by a single amino acid change (thr193Met)
What is Kmod?
Kmod is a weakened expression of the Kell antigens
It is similar to weak D caused by point mutations
How is Kel affected by enzymes
Kell is not mean to be affected by enzymes
It is not destroyed by enzymes
In practice you might see that K is actually weakened by enzymes but this is more to do with the actual reagents used and not the actual enzyme activity
How immunogenic is K, why is this significant?
1 in 10 chance of making an anti-K if K+ blood given to K-
It is IgG, it reacts at 37 degrees, it is not complement binding
Because of this all K- women of childbearing age are given K- blood
it can cause a severe haemolytic transfusion reaction
It can occur naurally
Anti-K and anti-Ku are capable of causing a severe reaction
Comment on the immunigenicity of the different Kell antibodies
Anti-K and Ku are caoable of causing a severe reaction (severe haemolytic transfusion reaction)
Anti-k, anti-Kpa, anti-Kpb and anti Jsa and anti-Jsb cause milder reactions