Two new alleles of the RHCE gene in Black individuals: the RHce allele ceMO and the RHcE allele cEMI

Abstract

Summary. Six unrelated individuals of Afro-Caribbean origin, whose red cells have a marked reduction of the Rhe antigen expression, have been identified. All exhibited the same serological profile with anti-e monoclonal antibodies and lacked expression of the high frequency erelated antigen hr S

Rare RHCE phenotypes in black individuals of Afro-Caribbean origin: identification and transfusion safety

“…We showed already that ceMO encoded a weak Rhe antigen 18 and bring evidence here that it may encode a partial Rhe antigen, as individual 11 produced anti-e and anti-ce antibodies. We showed previously that variants homozygous for ceMO or with a ceMO/cE genotype were typed RH:Ϫ19.…”

“…We showed previously that variants homozygous for ceMO or with a ceMO/cE genotype were typed RH:Ϫ19. 18 Individual 11 is typed RH:19 because the associated R N allele encodes a polypeptide expressing RH19 (Table 3). Titers of antibodies were low, but we think that one should be cautious if transfusion occurs.…”

“…7 In this study, anti-RH19 is used as a reagent that is negative with all RH:Ϫ18 RBCs but also with some rare variants of Rhe antigen. 18 We categorized blood samples of individuals 1 to 12 into 3 groups according to the antibody specificities (Table 2) and the RBC Rh phenotypes (Table 3): group A: samples 1 to 8; group B: samples 9 and 10; group C: samples 11 and 12. Origin of immunization is indicated in Table 2.…”

“…15 Besides RH:Ϫ18 and RH:Ϫ34 phenotypes, numerous Rhe variants are encountered in the black population. [16][17][18][19][20][21] Some variants are associated with the production of anti-e in a way similar to the production of anti-D by partial D individuals, the abnormality being restricted to the partial e situation. 12 Indeed, transfusion safety is also a problem for Dccee individuals producing alloanti-e, as the Rhe-negative RBCs that would be required are RhEpositive (e and E antigens have an antithetical relationship) and cannot be transfused to those RhE-negative individuals.…”

Insights into <b>RHCE</b> Molecular Analysis in Samples with Partial <b>D</b> Variants: the Experience of Western France

“…The Rh system is extremely complex, not only in terms of molecular genetics but also because of the 54 antigens reported so far, some of them being of major clinical significance [10]. For years it has been demonstrated that some RHD variants, particularly those of the three African clusters [11], segregate with RHCE variants, which result in the expression of partial/rare antigens [12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19]. But it is currently unknown to what extent expression of various antigens carried by the CE allele is linked to the expression of variant D alleles.…”