Gene frequencies of human neutrophil antigens in the Tunisian blood donorsand Berbers

Human neutrophil antigens play an important role in provoking immune neutro penia and transfusion-reactions, The aim of this study was to determine gra nulocyte-specific antigens on the neutrophil Fc gamma receptor IIIb (Fc gam ma RIIIb, CD16b), namely, the HNA-1a(NA1) and HNA-1b(NA2) antigens and thei r gene frequencies in Tunisian blood donors and Berbers. One hundred and ni nety-nine unrelated healthy Tunisian blood donors and Berbers were typed fo r HNA-1a and HNA-1b(NAI and NA2), using polymerase chain reaction with sequ ence-specific primers (PCR-SSP). In 24 granulocyte samples, the HNA-1a and HNA-1b phenotypes was additionally determined by the granulocyte imunofluor escence test (GIFT) and correlated with the genotyping results. A subsequen t analysis of the genotyping study showed that, the HNA-1a and HNA-1b gene frequencies observed, were 0.342 and 0.658 for Berbers, and 0.311 and 0.668 for blood donors, respectively. In the genotyping study conducted, it was determined that the HNA-1a and HNA-1b gene frequencies observed in Tunisian blood donors and Berbers are similar to those previously reported in other white populations.