Relative immunogenicity of Fya and K antigens in a Caucasian population, based on HLA class II restriction analysis.
BACKGROUND
It has long been known that relative immunogenicity is a characteristic of protein red blood cell (RBC) antigens, but the mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this work was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this relative immunogenicity.


METHODS
Two RBC antigens were used as a model--the highly immunogenic K antigen (KEL1) and the less immunogenic Fya antigen (FY1)--and analyzed the distribution of DRB1* molecules in two groups of Caucasian individuals producing anti-Fya (n = 29) or anti-K (n = 30) alloantibodies. These experimental results were compared to the results generated by TEPITOPE, a DRB1* peptide-binding motif prediction algorithm.


RESULTS
It was found that within the anti-Fya group, the DRB1*04 phenotypic frequency was 100 percent, indicating that the DRB1*04 molecule is the restriction molecule. In the anti-K group, numerous DRB1* molecules were identified, demonstrating a high degree of histocompatibility promiscuity, corresponding to the predominant molecules in the Caucasian population. These findings were confirmed by TEPITOPE.


CONCLUSIONS
These results strongly suggest that protein RBC intrinsic immunogenicity depends on the distribution of DRB1* restriction molecules.
Noizat-Pirenne
France
F
Etablissement Français du Sang Ile de France, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil; EA3952, Paris University, Paris, France.
Tournamille
Christophe
C
Bierling
Philippe
P
Roudot-Thoraval
Françoise
F
Le Pennec
Pierre-Yves
PY
Rouger
Philippe
P
Ansart-Pirenne
Hélène
H
D000465:Algorithms; D004375:Duffy Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010455:Peptides / Q000276:immunology; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D044465:White People
C473745:ACKR1 protein, human; D004375:Duffy Blood-Group System; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains; D007518:Isoantibodies; D007626:Kell Blood-Group System; D010455:Peptides; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface