Study of the molecular polymorphism of the Rh blood group system and its relationship with aloimmunization and destruction of red blood cells

• Grant number: 12/50927-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: January 01, 2013
• End date: April 30, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Immunogenetics
• Agreement: CONICET
• Principal Investigator: Lilian Maria de Castilho
• Grantee: Lilian Maria de Castilho
• Principal researcher abroad: Carlos Miguel Cotorruelo
• Institution abroad: Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Argentina
• Host Institution: Centro de Hematologia e Hemoterapia (HEMOCENTRO). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/04651-3 - Transfusion safety and immune response to red blood cell antigens in patients with sickle cell disease, AP.R

Abstract

The Rh system is highly complex with a large number of variants and antigens and is of great interest in transfusion medicine and fetal-maternal due to its involvement in erythrocyte alloimmunization and immune destruction of red blood cells. The identification of phenotypes with altered expression of the RhD antigen is of fundamental importance in transfusion practice and fetal-maternal to ensure safe transfusion and efficient administration of Rh immunoglobulin. However, the large number of RhD variants described and the patterns of variability and reactivity of commercial antisera used in RhD typing are factors that limit the application of serological methods and thus molecular methods have been used to better characterize these variants. Although many polymorphisms responsible for changes in RhD antigen have been described in European populations, we believe that new mutations can still be found in other populations. With a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the expression of the RhD antigen, it will be possible to predict which individuals phenotypically RhD negative may be safely transfused with RhD positive RBCs. This will be of clinical use for polytransfused patients who have multiple antibodies (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LUCIANA CAYRES SCHMIDT; LILIAN CASTILHO; OTAVIO VINICIUS NEVES VIEIRA; EMÍLIA SIPPERT; ANE CAROLINE GASPARDI; MARINA LOBATO MARTINS; MARIA CLARA FERNANDES DA SILVA MALTA. Impact of a confirmatory RhD test on the correct serologic typing of blood donors. Revista Brasileira de Hematologia e Hemoterapia, v. 37, n. 5, p. 302-305, 2015-10-00. (12/50927-0)