Minor histocompatibility (H) antigens are allogeneic target molecules having significant roles in alloimmune responses after human leukocyte antigen-matched solid organ and stem cell transplantation (SCT).Minor H antigens are instrumental in the processes of transplant rejection, graft-versus-host disease, and in the curative graft-versus-tumor effect of SCT.The latter characteristic enabled the current application of selected minor H antigens thin mantel shelf in clinical immunotherapeutic SCT protocols.
No information exists on the global phenotypic distribution of the currently identified minor H antigens.Therefore, an estimation of their overall impact in human leukocyte antigen-matched solid organ and SCT in the major ethnic populations is still lacking.For the first time, a worldwide phenotype frequency analysis of ten autosomal minor H antigens was executed by 31 laboratories and comprised 2,685 randomly selected individuals from six major ethnic populations.
Significant differences in minor H antigen frequencies were observed between the ethnic populations, faux parlor palm some of which appeared to be geographically correlated.