Isolation and Detection of RhD Antigen from Red Blood Cell (RBC) Membrane by Immuno- Precipitation Method

Rh (Rhesus) is a highly complex blood group system in man which plays an important role in transfusion medicine. The aim of this study was the isolation of RhD protein from the membrane of RBCs. In this experimental study immunoprecipitation method with human anti-RhD polyclonal antibody was utilized for the isolation of RhD antigen from Rh+ human blood samples Proteins of RBCs were characterized by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. Antigenicity of the RhD protein was assessed by ELISA using commercially available human anti-RhD polyclonal antibody with peroxidase conjugated goat anti-human as a secondary antibody. The results show that RhD protein has successfully been isolated by immunoprecipitation method. The expected size of RhD protein was confirmed by Western blot analysis. RhD antibody reacted with RhD antigen prepared from ghost with polyclonal antibody in ELISA, but no reaction was observed in Western blot analysis with monoclonal antibody: It is necessary to mention that this is the primary report of relative purification of RhD and further studies are recommended. The RhD may be helpful to further investigate the molecular basis of RhD protein and could be applicable for production of anti- D antibody in an animal model.