ABOUT K ANTIGEN

BY SWaTI MOHANTY
Hematopoiesis is an age-old description as well as mechanism of how we
differ from each other within the same species. It involves many selfmarkers; most of which are immunogenic. This is a way by which populations
evolve under a natural selective pressure and how self-antigens become
determinants of ethnicity. The self-antigenic markers have been studied
extensively under immuno-hematology; precisely dealing with markers on
red blood cells and in some specific tissues like mesenchymal tissue of heart,
kidney, liver etc.. The underlying importance of these self-markers is that
they elicit allotype antibody production against the other type, which creates
a precarious situation under medical procedures like blood-tranfusion and
allograft of important organs. More so these self-antigens and antibodies can
pass the placental barrier in pregnancy and child-birth. So, typing of selfantigens of red-blood cells have become a routine procedure under these
conditions. Till date many groups of such antigens have been defined other
than conventional ABO system such as Rh, Kell, Kidd, Duffy, MNS, Lutheran,
Diego, Colton etc.; about 11 blood group systems. This indicates the selfantigens of the hematopoietic system exhibit unusually high rate of
polymorphism. One of the best studied blood group system dominated by a
self-antigen K is the Kell blood group system.
The Kell antigen or KEL1 was discovered in 1946, where
its corresponding antibody caused hemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR) and
hemolytic disease of the newborn of a lady named Mrs. Kelleher. It is an
antigen system that shows ethnic variation. It is also a major determinant of
fatal or serious disease conditions like hemolytic disease of the fetus and
newborn (HDFN/HDN).The study of K-Antigen led subsequently to the
discovery of a very complex blood-group system called KELL BLOOD GROUP
SYSTEM. Since its first description by Coombs et al., 1946, the blood group
system is shown to be highly complex with over 25 antigens described so far.
These antigens are the third most in severity of immunologic response after
ABO and Rh system antigens. The major antigens are K-antigen and its codominant allele called cellano antigen. Others are Kp, Ku, Js, K11, K12, K13,
K18, K19, Km etc. A K-null variant is also found which is devoid of all Kell
group antigens.
K-antigen was the first antigen to be discovered in the Kell system. It is found
in low frequency yet is highly immunogenic. Its co-dominant allele k or
cellano is found in higher frequencies. The K- antigen has highest frequency

among the Caucasians (9%) and the Arabs (12-15%).The ethnic distribution
is apparently quite interesting for studies regarding the human evolution.
The K-antigen is primarily restricted to erythroid organs and vascular system.
The notable fact regarding the K-antigen is also that unlike other Kell system
antigens and other red blood cell self-antigens, it is expressed in very early
stages of development and especially in erythroid progenitor cells.