Mapping molecular HLA typing data to UNOS antigen equivalents.
Publication/Presentation Date
11-1-2018
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Histocompatibility labs must convert molecular HLA typing data to antigen equivalencies for entry into the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) UNet system. While an Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) policy document provides general guidelines for conversion, the process is complex because no antigen mapping table is available. We present a UNOS antigen equivalency table for all IPD-IMGT/HLA alleles at the A, B, C, DRB1, DRB3/4/5, DQA1, and DQB1 loci.
METHODS: An automated script was developed to generate a UNOS antigen equivalency table. Data sources used in the conversion algorithm included the World Marrow Donor Association (WMDA) antigen table, the HLA Dictionary, and UNOS-provided tables. To validate antigen mappings, we converted National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) high resolution allele frequencies to antigen equivalents and compared with the UNOS Calculated Panel Reactive Antibodies (CPRA) reference panel.
RESULTS: Normalized frequency similarity scores between independent NMDP and UNOS panels for 4 US population categories (Caucasian, Hispanic, African American and Asian/Pacific Islander) ranged from 0.85 to 0.97, indicating correct antigen mapping. An open source web application (ALLele to ANtigen ("ALLAN")) and web services were also developed to map unambiguous and ambiguous HLA typing data to UNOS antigen equivalents based on NMDP population-specific allele frequencies (http://www.transplanttoolbox.org).
CONCLUSIONS: Computer-assisted interpretation of molecular HLA data may aid in reducing typing discrepancies in UNet. This work also sets a foundation for molecular typing data to be utilized directly in the UNet match run as well as the virtual crossmatch process at transplant centers.
Volume
79
Issue
11
First Page
781
Last Page
789
ISSN
1879-1166
Published In/Presented At
Kaur, N., Kransdorf, E. P., Pando, M. J., Maiers, M., Ray, B., Lee, J. H., Lalli, P., Murphey, C. L., Bray, R. A., & Gragert, L. (2018). Mapping molecular HLA typing data to UNOS antigen equivalents. Human immunology, 79(11), 781–789. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.humimm.2018.08.002
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
PubMedID
30118777
Department(s)
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Document Type
Article