The evolution and formation of RH genes

Abstract

The Rh system clinically is one of the important blood groups. The major Rh antigens, which are constituted by over 40 types, are RhD, RhC/c, and RhE/e. Furthermore, Rh blood group system is characterized by the existence of many variants. It was considered that Rh blood group system was encoded on two genes termed the RHCE and RHD, which are composed of ten exons, respectively. It is inferred that the RHD gene encodes the RhD antigen and that the RHCE gene encodes the Rh C/c and RhE/e antigens. There are RHce, RHCe, RHcE and RHCE alleles as polymorphisms of RHCE gene. In 2000, the entire nucleotide sequences in all introns of both the RHD and RHCE genes were determined. Due to the new findings on RH genes, it is thought that multiple recombination (and/or gene conversion), nucleotide substitutions, small nucleotide gaps, replication slippage of microsatellite, large nucleotide gaps (due to Alu sequence) and the high level of the homology (%) between both RH genes are the important factors in the formation and evolution of both RH genes and Rh variants. Based on the advance of human genome project, the new interpretations on the evolution and formation of RH genes and Rh variants will be performed. Human Rh family (superfamily) and its counterparts in primates, mammals, fish, amphibians, bacteria, lower eukaryotes, archaea and plants have been identified. A lot of findings have been accumulated in their evolution and function. As gene conversions or recombination events confuse the phylogenetic tree of human RH genes and their counterparts, careful attention is necessary for researchers to calculate the time of gene duplication and to discuss the evolution of Rh family and its counterparts. Rh genotyping methods will never be perfect and both the clinicians and researchers have to recognize the limitation of Rh genotyping, especially RhD genotyping, because new Rh variants must have formed continually. In applying the Rh genotyping to clinical medicine, especially transfusion medicine, it is necessary to compare and examine the serological (phenotypic) data in Rh blood group system with caution.