Blood group system | Commonly recognized antigens | Function | Tissue distribution | Clinical importance of antigen | Clinical importance of antibodies |
ABO | A, B, H | | RBCs, platelets, endothelial and epithelial tissues | Matched for tissue transplantation | HTR |
Rh | D, C, c, E, e | | RBCs, platelets | | HTR, HDFN |
Glob | P, LKE | | RBCs, epithelial and non-hematopoietic tissues | Receptor for Shiga toxins, E. coli, S. Suis (brucellosis), parvovirus B19 | Paroxysmal cold hemoglobinuria resulting from autoantibodies to P |
I | I, i | | All cell membranes | | Autoimmune hemolytic anemia following infectious illness |
MNSs | M or N, S or s | Chaperonin | RBCs | Receptor for malaria species P. falciparum | HTR, HDFN |
Kell | K (KEL1), k (KEL2) | | RBCs | | HTR, HDFN |
Duffy | FY1 (Fya), FY2 (Fyb) | Chemokine receptor | RBCs, endothelial and some epithelial cells (lung, kidney), Purkinje cells of cerebellum | Receptor for certain malaria species (Plasmodium vivax, P. knowlesi) | HTR, HDFN |
Kidd | JK1 (Jka), JK2 (Jkb) | Urea transporter | RBCs, renal medulla | | HTR, HDFN (rare) |
Lutheran | LU1 (LUa), LU2 (LUb), LU6/LU9, LU8/LU14 | | RBCs, endothelium, basal layer of epithelium | Possible role in RBC adhesion in sickle cell disease | |