Extended blood group profiles for Malays, Chinese, and Indians in Peninsular Malaysia

Che Ghazali Norul Hajar,Nor Suhaila Md Riffin,Gehad Elghazali,Geoffrey Keith Chambers,Mohd Nazri Hassan,Hisham Atan Edinur,Prathapan Poonachi,Sabreena Safuan,Zulkafli Zefarina,Tuan Hulwani Tuan Mohammad

doi:10.1186/s43042-020-00096-y

Abstract

BackgroundBlood group antigens are immunogenic polymorphic molecules presented on the surface of RBCs. This study aimed to determine extended blood group profiles (ABO, Rhesus, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, MNS, Cartwright, Dombrock, Colton, Lutheran, and Vel) in Malays, Chinese, and Indians in Peninsular Malaysia.ResultsHere, ABO Type O, DCCee, MNs, and Fy (a+b−) were the most frequent major blood group phenotypes in all three ethnic groups. Other minor blood group systems distributed differently across these ethnic groups, except for the Kell, Lutheran, Cartwright, and Vel blood group systems, where only K−k+, Lu (8+14), Yt (a+b−), and Vel (+) phenotypes were observed. Exact tests of population differentiation generally showed no significant differences between Malays included in the present study vs. other ethnically similar datasets from previous surveys. However, many significant differences were recorded in comparison between blood group datasets from ethnically unrelated populations (Malays vs. Chinese vs. Indians) especially for Rhesus, Kidd, and Duffy blood group systems. A Principal component analysis (PCA) plot showed that population groups from the Peninsular Malaysia map closely together as compared with population groups from other geographical regions.ConclusionsOverall, our present study has successfully provided an extended blood group profiles for Malays, Chinese, and Indians in Peninsular Malaysia. These new blood group datasets can be used as guidelines for donor recruitment and as reference standards for studying diseases associated with blood group systems.

Highlights

Blood group antigens are immunogenic polymorphic molecules presented on the surface of red blood cells (RBCs)
In the study reported here, we provide frequency data of 11 blood group systems screened in 222 unrelated volunteer Malay, Chinese, and Indian blood donors living in Peninsular Malaysia
The extended blood group profiles include their scores for several extra blood group systems (Cartwright, Colton, Dombrock, Lutheran, and Vel) that have not previously been reported [13, 14] can be used as guidelines for donor recruitment and as a reference standard for studying diseases associated with blood group systems [16, 17]

Summary

Introduction

Blood group antigens are immunogenic polymorphic molecules presented on the surface of RBCs. This study aimed to determine extended blood group profiles (ABO, Rhesus, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, MNS, Cartwright, Dombrock, Colton, Lutheran, and Vel) in Malays, Chinese, and Indians in Peninsular Malaysia. Frequencies of RBC antigens are unique, and considerable differences have been observed between unrelated ethnic groups [8, 9]. Two previous studies have reported blood group frequencies for several population groups in Peninsular Malaysia [13, 14] These include for ABO, Rh, Kell, Kidd, and Duffy blood group frequencies in Malays, Chinese, and Indians. In the study reported here, we provide frequency data of 11 blood group systems screened in 222 unrelated volunteer Malay, Chinese, and Indian blood donors living in Peninsular Malaysia. The extended blood group profiles include their scores for several extra blood group systems (Cartwright, Colton, Dombrock, Lutheran, and Vel) that have not previously been reported [13, 14] can be used as guidelines for donor recruitment and as a reference standard for studying diseases associated with blood group systems [16, 17]

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Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion