Lutheran blood group system

physiology

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Lutheran blood group system, classification of human blood based on the presence of substances called Lutheran antigens on the surfaces of red blood cells. There are 19 known Lutheran antigens, all of which arise from variations in a gene called BCAM (basal cell adhesion molecule). The system is based on the expression of two codominant alleles, designated Lu^a and Lu^b. The antigens Au^a and Au^b, known as the Auberger antigens, were once thought to make up a separate blood group but were later shown to be Lutheran antigens arising from variations in the BCAM gene.

The phenotypes Lu(a+b−) and Lu(a+b+) are found at various frequencies within populations. The Lu(a−b+) phenotype is the most common in all populations, whereas the Lu(a−b−) phenotype is extremely uncommon. Though present in the fetus, Lu^a is seldom the cause of erythroblastosis fetalis or of transfusion reactions.

For more information on the classification of human blood, see blood group.

This article was most recently revised and updated by Kara Rogers.