title: Molecular bases of unexpressed RHD alleles in Chinese D- persons.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to use a systematic survey to analyze RHD alleles in Chinese D- donors who do not express D antigen or who lack functional RhD protein.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 733 D-Chinese donors, not including Del phenotypes, were investigated by RHD polymorphism–specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Rhesus box PCR-PstI digestion, and RHD sequencing. The frequencies of identified alleles were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three genetic mechanisms and eight alleles were found associated with the Chinese D- phenotype. One new RHD/CE hybrid allele and one novel mutation were also found. The rates of total deletion and the most frequent hybrid allele RHD(1)-CE(2-9)-D(10) were similar to those found in previous studies. A previously reported mutation RHD(711delC) was found to be the predominant cause of aberrant RHD alleles.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Informative population-based data for improving molecular diagnostic strategies for Chinese D- persons are suggested by this study. This type of systematic knowledge is important for the development of typing and transfusion strategies for the Chinese population.
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Shanghai Blood Center, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Luyi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Danqi
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Dele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wo
authors.forename: Xiyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Shuangmei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhonghui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ziyan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D044466:Asian People; D001782:Blood Donors; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System; C026410:Rho(D) antigen