HLA‐DRB1*09:01 allele is associated with anti‐E immunization in a Chinese population

• DOI: 10.1111/trf.14568
• Publication Date: 2018-03-08T04:16:41Z
• Authors: Li Tian; Li Hou; Lixin Wang; Hong Xu; Jie Xiao; Binwu Ying
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Erythrocytes; Middle Aged; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Asian People; Gene Frequency; Isoantibodies; Case-Control Studies; Humans; Female; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Hepatitis B e Antigens; Alleles; HLA-DRB1 Chains

BACKGROUNDAnti‐E is the most common and important RBC alloantibody in the Chinese population. Several studies have demonstrated that the production of specific RBC alloantibodies is associated with HLA‐DRB1 polymorphisms. Considering that the Chinese population has its own unique characteristics of HLA‐DRB1 polymorphisms, we investigate whether specific HLA‐DRB1 alleles are associated with E immunization in a Chinese population.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThe frequencies of HLA‐DRB1 phenotypes were compared among 78 patients possessing anti‐E and 192 healthy blood donors. HLA‐DRB1 genotyping was carried out using sequence‐based typing method. The TEPITOPEpan software was used to predict E antigen–derived anchor peptides binding to HLA‐DRB1 molecules.RESULTSThe frequency of HLA‐DRB1*09:01 phenotype was significantly higher in the patients with anti‐E than in healthy controls: 76.9% versus 27.6% (odds ratio, 8.7; 95% confidence interval, 4.7‐16.2; corrected p value < 0.0034). One E antigen–derived anchor peptide (217WMFWPSVNS225) was predicted to bind three HLA‐DRB1 molecules (HLA‐DRB1*04:05, *04:17, and *13:02); however, no anchor peptide was predicted to bind HLA‐DRB1*09:01.CONCLUSIONThis study indicated that HLA‐DRB1*09:01 phenotype was significantly more prevalent in E‐immunized patients than the control group. It suggested that HLA‐DRB1*09:01 molecule might represent a susceptibility phenotype enhancing formation of anti‐E alloantibody. Further study would be necessary to identify the anchor peptide responsible for E alloimmunization by stimulation of specific T cells by peptide originating from E antigen.