title: The Kidd (JK) Blood Group System.
abstract: The Kidd blood group system was discovered in 1951 and is composed of 2 antithetical antigens, Jkaand Jkb, along with a third high-incidence antigen, Jk3. The Jk3 antigen is expressed in all individuals except those with the rare Kidd-null phenotype. Four Kidd phenotypes are therefore possible: Jk(a+b-), Jk(a-b+), Jk(a+b+), and Jk(a-b-). The glycoprotein carrying the Kidd antigens is a 43-kDa, 389-amino acid protein with 10 membrane-spanning domains which functions as a urea transporter on endothelial cells of the renal vasa recta as well as erythrocytes. The HUT11/UT-B/JK (SLC14A1) gene encoding this glycoprotein is located on chromosome 18q12-q21. The Jkaand Jkbantigens are the result of a single-nucleotide polymorphism present at nucleotide 838 resulting in an aspartate or asparagine amino acid at position 280, respectively. The Kidd blood group can create several difficult transfusion situations. Besides the typical acute hemolytic transfusion reactions common to all clinically relevant blood group antigens, the Kidd antigens are notorious for causing delayed hemolytic transfusion reactions due to the strong anamnestic response exhibited by antibodies directed against Kidd antigens. The Kidd-null phenotype is extremely rare in most ethnic groups, but is clinically significant due to the ability of those with the Kidd-null phenotype to produce antibodies directed against the high-incidence Jk3 antigen. Anti-Jk3 antibodies behave in concordance with anti-Jkaor anti-Jkbpossessing the capability to cause both acute and delayed hemolytic reactions. Antibodies against any of the 3 Kidd antigens can also be a cause of hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn, although this is generally mild. In this review, we will outline the makeup of the Kidd system from its historical discovery to the details of the Kidd gene and glycoprotein, and then discuss the practical aspects of Kidd antibodies and transfusion reactions with an extended focus on the Kidd-null phenotype. We will end with a brief discussion of the donor aspects related to the screening and supply management of blood from donors with the rare Jk(a-b-) phenotype.
authors.affiliation: John A. Burns School of Medicine University of Hawai'i at Mānoa UH Pathology Residency Program Office, Honolulu, HI; Queens Medical Center, Honolulu, HI. Electronic address: lawicki@hawaii.edu.
authors.forename: Shaun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lawicki
authors.affiliation: Blood Bank of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI. Electronic address: rcovin@bbh.org.
authors.forename: Randal B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Covin
authors.affiliation: John A. Burns School of Medicine University of Hawai'i at Mānoa UH Pathology Residency Program Office, Honolulu, HI; Queens Medical Center, Honolulu, HI. Electronic address: aapowers@hawaii.edu.
authors.forename: Amy A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Powers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000378:metabolism; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D001788:Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D046528:Chimerism; D036101:Cord Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D004899:Erythroblastosis, Fetal / Q000097:blood; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology; D017048:Health Care Costs; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007667:Kidd Blood-Group System / Q000502:physiology*; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009536:Niacinamide / Q000737:chemistry; D011687:Purines / Q000737:chemistry; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D007667:Kidd Blood-Group System; D011687:Purines; C552240:StemRegenin 1; D009536:Niacinamide
keywords: Blood donors; Erythrocyte membrane; Erythrocytes; Kidd blood group system; Transfusion medicine; Transfusion reaction