title: Rh haplotypes that make e but not hrB usually make VS.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Rh phenotypes hrB- and VS+ are both rare in Whites but more common in Blacks. The high-incidence antigen hrB is present on most red cells that are e+. The presence of VS on red cells is associated with an aberrant expression of e, often called eS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using conventional serologic methods, including a monoclonal anti-hrB-like antibody, we studied 65 e+ samples that were apparently hrB-.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 65, we found that 59 (91%) were VS+. Recent findings have indicated that in VS+ persons a change from leucine to valine occurs at amino acid 245 of the RHCE-encoded polypeptide. While this residue is predicted to lie within the red cell membrane bilayer, the change presumably affects alanine 226 (that is present when e is expressed) in such a way that eS is seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the change from e to eS may result in nonexpression or marked depression of expression of hrB that is, perhaps, an epitope of e. While the molecular basis of the hrB-phenotype is not known, it is unlikely that the leucine-to-valine change at residue 245, resulting in the aberrant from of e, explains all hrB-samples. First, hrB-VS+ and hrB- VS- samples must differ. Second, some hrB- VS+ samples are C+, some are C-. Presumably diverse molecular bases are involved in hrB-phenotypes.
authors.affiliation: New York Blood Center, N.Y. 10021, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Reid
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Storry
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Issitt
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Combs
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Beal
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Mallory
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Blancher
mesh_terms: D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics; D015894:Genome, Human; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System