PHENOTYPIC AND GENOTYPIC ASSOCIATION OF THE DUFFY BLOOD GROUP ANTIGENS (FYA, FYB) IN HEALTHY BLOOD DONORS OF TABUK –SAUDI ARABIA

Abstract

Duffy encoded by the ACKR1 gene is a blood group system and glycoprotein antigens found on RBCs, endothelial cells of blood vessels, and capillaries of glomeruli, peri-bronchioles, and Purkinje cells in the central nervous system. Duffy blood system was reported to be associated with malaria infection, neutropenia, chronic infections, hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) and acute or delayed hemolytic blood transfusion reactions. In this study, we analyzed the Duffy blood group system using the amplification mutation system PCR (ARMS PCR) in blood donors (200, males and females) from Tabuk and Duba region. Results showed that the c. 125 G>A SNP genotype distribution was AA (Fy a- b+) genotype (51 vs. 49%), GA (Fya+ Fyb+) genotype (40 vs. 40%) followed by GG (Fya+ Fyb-) (9 vs. 11%). Analysis of the c.265C>T SNP was CC genotype (97 vs. 98%), CT genotype (3 vs. 2%) followed by TT (0 vs. 0%). The c.1-67T>C SNP genotype distribution was CC genotype (44 vs. 43%), CT genotype (41 vs. 37%) followed by TT (20 vs. 15%). The CC genotype of the c.1-67T>C abolishes Fy antigen expression (FY*Null) is relatively high. This result shed light on the Duffy antigen distribution in North region of KSA but requires further validation in future studies with larger sample size.