Colton antigen system

Interpretation of antibody panel to detect patient antibodies towards the most relevant human blood group systems. source ↗

The Colton antigen system (Co) is present on the membranes of red blood cells and in the tubules of the kidney¹ and helps determine a person's blood type. The Co antigen is found on a protein called aquaporin-1 which is responsible for water homeostasis and urine concentration.²

The Co antigen is important in transfusion medicine. 99.8% of people possess the Co(a) allele. Individuals with Co(b) allele or who are missing the Colton antigen are at risk for a transfusion reaction such as hemolytic anemia or alloimmunization. Antibodies against the Colton antigen may also cause hemolytic disease of the newborn, in which a pregnant person’s body creates antibodies against the blood of their fetus, leading to destruction of the fetal blood cells.³

Clinical diagnostic

Clinical testing in patient care for Colton antigens follows published minimum quality and operational requirements,⁴ similar to red cell genotyping for any of the other recognized blood group systems. Molecular analysis can identify gene variants (alleles) that may affect Colton antigens expression on the red cell membrane.

References

Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM): 110450 OMIM entry for the Colton antigen

Denker, B. M.; Smith, B. L.; Kuhajda, F. P.; Agre, P. (October 1988). "Identification, purification, and partial characterization of a novel Mr 28,000 integral membrane protein from erythrocytes and renal tubules". J. Biol. Chem. 263: 15634–42. PMID 3049610.
King, L. S.; Choi, M.; Fernandez, P. C.; Cartron, J. P.; Agre, P. (2001). "Defective urinary-concentrating ability due to a complete deficiency of aquaporin-1". N Engl J Med. 345 (3): 175–9. doi:10.1056/NEJM200107193450304. PMID 11463012.
Covin, R. B.; Evans, K. S.; Olshock, R.; Thompson, H. W. (2001). "Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction caused by anti-Coa". Immunohematology. 17: 45–9. PMID 15373591.
Standards for Molecular Testing for Red Cell, Platelet, and Neutrophil Antigens (7th ed.). Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies. 2025. ISBN 978-1-56395-516-7.

External links

Colton at BGMUT Blood Group Antigen Gene Mutation Database at NCBI, NIH

[1] Denker, B. M.; Smith, B. L.; Kuhajda, F. P.; Agre, P. (October 1988). "Identification, purification, and partial characterization of a novel Mr 28,000 integral membrane protein from erythrocytes and renal tubules". J. Biol. Chem. 263: 15634–42. PMID 3049610.

[2] King, L. S.; Choi, M.; Fernandez, P. C.; Cartron, J. P.; Agre, P. (2001). "Defective urinary-concentrating ability due to a complete deficiency of aquaporin-1". N Engl J Med. 345 (3): 175–9. doi:10.1056/NEJM200107193450304. PMID 11463012.

[3] Covin, R. B.; Evans, K. S.; Olshock, R.; Thompson, H. W. (2001). "Acute hemolytic transfusion reaction caused by anti-Coa". Immunohematology. 17: 45–9. PMID 15373591.

[4] Standards for Molecular Testing for Red Cell, Platelet, and Neutrophil Antigens (7th ed.). Association for the Advancement of Blood & Biotherapies. 2025. ISBN 978-1-56395-516-7.

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