Multiple isoforms excluding normal RhD mRNA detected in Rh blood group Del phenotype with RHD 1227A allele

The RhD mRNA was analyzed in both Rh-positive and Del phenotypes with RHD 1227A allele through sequencing. As a result, five and six transcripts were detected in Rh-positive and Del, respectively. Four of them have identical sequences between Rh-positive and Del. Those are the transcripts with exon 9, exons 8 and 9, exons 7 and 9, and exons 7–9 spliced out compared normal RhD mRNA that was detected in Rh-positive but not in Del individuals. Unexpectedly, two additional transcripts were found in Del individuals. Its exon 9 or exons 8–9 were spliced out, but interestingly both possess a 170 bp segment of sequence from intron 7 of RHD. We may conclude that a normal RhD protein does not exist in a Del individual with RHD 1227A allele since the exon 9 was always spliced out due to the silent mutation at the end of exon 9. The transcripts without exon 9 was also detected in the normal Rh-positive individual and further confirmed by a specific reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR) system.