HLA-E*01:01 is linked to comparatively low HLA-E surface expression, whereas substantially higher HLA-E expression is found in the presence of at least one HLA-E*01:03 allele in healthy individuals [6,24,25] as well as in hematological disorders such as acute leukemia [9] or chronic lymphocytic leukemia [10]. The gene discussed is HLA-E; the disease is B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.