Blood groups

Blood groups

In 1901 Karl Landsteiner discovered that when the Blood of one human being was transfused with that of another human being, differences in their Blood leads to shock, jaundice, and renal failure. Since the blood group antigen and antibody reactions result in the agglutination reaction the antigen is known as agglutinogen and the antibody is known as agglutinin. Blood group antigens are present on the RBC membrane. According to Land Steiner when an agglutinogen is present on the RBC membrane the corresponding antibody is absent in the plasma. So your ‘blood group’ depends on type antigens which found on the surface of the red blood cell membrane.

1. ABO System

Land Steiner found two types of antigens on the RBC they are antigen A and antigen B, similarly there are two types of antibodies in the plasma called antibody alpha and beta antibody. Since this antigen antibody involved in agglutination reactions the antigen is called as agglutinogen and the antibody is known as agglutinin.According to Land Steiner’s law when an agglutinogen is present on the RBC the corresponding antibody will be absent in the plasma.Based on the presence or absence of antigens and antibodies human blood is classified into four major groups namely A,B, AB and O.

Blood group A

If you belong to the blood group A, you have A antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and beta antibodies in your blood plasma.

Blood group B

If you belong to the blood group B, you have B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and alpha antibodies in your blood plasma.

Blood group AB

If you belong to the blood group AB, you have both A and B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells and both alpha and beta antibodies are absent in your blood plasma.

Blood group O

If you belong to the blood group O (null), you donot have the A and B antigens on the surface of your red blood cells but you have both alpha and beta antibodies in your blood plasma.

Rhesus types

It is also like the blood group antigen and also present in the cell membrane. Since this antigen was found in Rhesus monkey first they called this antigen as Rhesus antigen or Rh system. Most people are ‘rhesus positive’ as they have rhesus antigens on their red blood cells. But, about 3 in 20 people do not have rhesus antigen and are said to be ‘rhesus negative’.

How is blood group testing done?

Basically, a sample of blood is mixed separately with anti-A antibodies, anti B antibody and Rh antibodies. If the red cells to clump together with anti-A antibodies, then it indicate the presence of A antigens in the blood cells and the person belongs to A group. Similarly if agglutination reaction occurs with anti B antibodies then it indicates the presence of B antigen. When agglutination is found in both anti A and anti B antibodies it indicates that the person belongs to AB group. If no agglutination found with both antibodies of A and B then it indicates the absence of antigens and the person belongs to O group.

Similarly if an anti Rh antibody shows agglutination with the given blood then it indicates the presence of Rh antigens on the blood cells. Hence the person is Rh positive. If no agglutination seen then the person is Rh negative.

Blood groups and pregnancy

The blood group test is a must for pregnant women. If the mother is Rh negative, and the fetus is Rh positive (inherited from a Rh positive father), when the fetal blood enters in to mothers body due to some reason the mother become sensitized. The mother’s immune system produce antibody against the Rh antigen. When these antibodies enter in to fetus, these may attack and destroy the baby’s blood cells. When there is a reduction in the functional RBC, the immature blast cells come to the fetal circulation. This condition is called ‘Erythro blastosis fetalis (Because erythroid (red blood cells) blast cells are found in the fetus). However, without treatment, this can become a serious problem in subsequent pregnancies as the mother’s immune system will be ‘sensitized’ after the first pregnancy. The baby with this disorder will have anemia, jaundice and in many cases the mental retardation.

Antigens and natural antibodies of ABO blood groups:

Isoantibodies :(Iso means belonging to the same species) Isoantibody is anantibody produced by one individual that reacts with the antigen of another individual of the same species. Antibody – A and Antibody – B are called Isoantibodies.

Isoantigens :An antigen of an individual which is capable of eliciting an immuneresponse in individuals of the same species who are genetically different and who do not possess that antigen is called isoantigen.

Natural antibodies :Human forms antibodies against the blood group antigensthey do not express. These antibodies are called naturally occurring antibodies or isoagglutinins. It may be of IgM, IgG or IgA. Antibody production starts at 3 months of age, reaches its highest level during adult and decreases with advancing age. Usually, Antibody A titers are higher than Antibody- B.