Rh antigens: definition and blood types

Author: Scott A. Sheffield MS

Last update:

Rh Blood Group System:

image descriptionRh antigens (= agglutinogens) are one of many types of surface marker molecules made by red blood cells.

A red blood cell.
Rh antigen surface marker molecules on a red blood cell.
Anitgenic surface markers.
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  • The letters Rh are applied to these antigens because they were first identified by Landsteiner and Wiener in 1940 using antibodies against Rhesus monkey RBCs.

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  • Chemically, Rh antigens are part of long proteins that image descriptioncoil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Animations showing the long proteins that coil back and forth through the RBC plasma membrane, forming six extracellular loops.
Extracellular loops forming through the RBC plasma membrane.
  • The sequence of amino acids on extracellular image descriptionloops 3, 4, and 6 determines the Rh antigen type.
Extracellular loops 3, 4, and 6 which determine Rh antigen type.
Extracellular loops 3, 4, and 6 which determine Rh antigen type with the loops highlighted in red.
Extracellular loops 3, 4, and 6 highlighted
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  • Over 40 types of Rh antigens have been identified thus far, each differing in structure by just a few amino acids.
  • Most common are the D antigens, and individuals who have these antigens are considered to be Rh+.
  • About 85% of Caucasians, 90%-95% of African Americans and 98%-99% of Asian Americans are Rh+.
  • Individuals who have other types of Rh antigens are considered to be Rh-.

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