title: Anti-HrB and anti-hrb revisited.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Since their description in the 1970s, anti-Hr(B) (antibody against a high-prevalence Rh antigen) and anti-hr(B) (anti-e-like antibody) are still a subject of debate about representing two aspects of a global immune response or being two independent antibodies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the immune response against the antigens of Rh system of 30 individuals presenting a hr(B)(RH31)- phenotype. Genomic analysis of RH genes was performed in all individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 30 individuals, 27 had a Hr(B)(RH34)- phenotype. No immunization against Rh antigens was found in 16 individuals. Three individuals made anti-D only, whereas six individuals made anti-Hr(B) (four with anti-hr(B) and two without anti-hr(B)) and two individuals made anti-hr(B) without anti-Hr(B). Among the 30 individuals, three had a Hr(B)+ phenotype. No immunization against Rh antigens was found in one individual, whereas two individuals made anti-hr(B); the genomic analysis of selected individuals showed the presence of a (C)ce(s) haplotype, either Type 1 or Type 2, and a DIII Type 5 ce(s) haplotype, in the homozygous state, in compound heterozygosity with each other or in heterozygosity with a DcE haplotype. Genomic data were in accordance with serologic data.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data provide the evidence that anti-Hr(B) and anti-hr(B) are independent antibodies, defining two different specificities. These antibodies may be produced by individuals expressing variants of RhCE protein. Serologic and molecular data indicate that e antigen encoded by the (C)ce(s) haplotype is a partial antigen. In individuals carrying a (C)ce(s) haplotype, the risk and the type of alloimmunization to Rh antigens are related to the second Rh haplotype.
authors.affiliation: Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, CNRGS-INSERM U665, Paris, France. bnpham@ints.fr
authors.forename: Bach-Nga
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peyrard
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tourret
authors.forename: Marylise
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beolet
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Many
authors.forename: Geneviève
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Juszczak
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Roussel
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kappler-Gratias
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rouger
authors.forename: Pierre-Yves
authors.initials: PY
authors.lastname: Le Pennec
mesh_terms: D005091:Exons / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007518:Isoantibodies; C066468:RHCE protein, human; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System