RHCE*ceCF encodes partial c and partial e but not CELO, an antigen antithetical to Crawford.

Background: RH43 (Crawford) is encoded by RHCE*ce with nucleotide changes 48G>C, 697C>G, and 733C>G (RHCE*ceCF). We investigated the Rh antigen expression and antibody specificities in four patients with this allele.

Study Design And Methods: Hemagglutination tests, DNA extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism, allele-specific PCR, reticulocyte RNA isolation, reverse transcription-PCR cDNA analyses, cloning, and sequencing were performed by standard procedures.

Two MER2-negative individuals with the same novel CD151 mutation and evidence for clinical significance of anti-MER2.

Background: MER2 (RAPH1), the only antigen of the RAPH blood group system, is located on the tetraspanin CD151. Only four examples of alloanti-MER2 are known. We report here two new examples of alloanti-MER2, in women of Pakistani and Turkish origin, one of whom showed signs of a hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR) after transfusion of 3 units of red cells (RBCs).

The molecular diversity of Sema7A, the semaphorin that carries the JMH blood group antigens.

Background: Semaphorin 7A (Sema7A), the protein that carries the JMH blood group antigen, is involved in immune responses and plays an important role in axon growth and guidance. Because previous serologic studies on red blood cells (RBCs) suggested a considerable diversity of Sema7A, the present study was designed to elucidate the complex picture of the molecular diversity of this protein.

Study Design And Methods: The JMH antigen status was determined by serology, flow cytometry, and Western blot.

Molecular basis of the LOCR (Rh55) antigen.

Background: In 1994 during the investigation of a case of hemolytic disease of the newborn, a new low-incidence red cell (RBC) antigen, LOCR, was described. Although the presence of LOCR was associated with altered expression of Rh antigens, its formal assignment to the Rh blood group system did not occur until haplotype and linkage analysis conducted in 2003 provided the necessary proof. The current study was undertaken in an attempt to define the underlying RH mutation in LOCR+ individuals.

The RHCE allele ceCF: the molecular basis of Crawford (RH43).

Background: The Crawford antigen (RH43) was described in 1980. It occurred in African American people, as a low-prevalence Rhesus antigen, who were also VS+.

Study Design And Methods: Twelve blood samples were analyzed because of inquiries into discrepant reactions in routine anti-D typing.

SCER and SCAN: two novel high-prevalence antigens in the Scianna blood group system.

Background: More than 20 years ago, two probands were described whose red blood cells (RBCs) typed Sc:1,-2,3. Their serum samples contained alloantibodies reactive with all RBCs tested except those of the Sc:-1,-2,-3 phenotype. Cloning of the Scianna gene allowed us to determine the molecular bases of these samples.