EXPRESSION OF RHD AND RHCE GENE-PRODUCTS USING RETROVIRAL TRANSDUCTION OF K562 CELLS ESTABLISHES THE MOLECULAR-BASIS OF RH BLOOD-GROUP ANTIGENS

Retroviral-mediated gene transfer using cDNA transcripts of the RHD an d RHCE genes resulted in the isolation of K562 clones expressing D and G or c and E antigens, respectively. These results represent the firs t direct demonstration that the RHD gene encodes the D and G antigens and the RHCE gene encodes the c and E antigens. Both c and E antigens were expressed after transduction of K562 cells with a single cDNA, in dicating that the c antigen does not arise by alternative splicing (ex on skipping) of the product of the RHCE gene, as has been suggested. ( C) 1996 by The American Society of Hematology.