Immunology of Blood Transfusion Flashcards
Carry antigenic proteins and carbohydrates on their surfaces
Erythrocytes
Each such molecule defines a
Blood Group
The specific alleles in DNA, and the specific antigens present on rbc, define an individual=s
Blood Type
Which blood groups are the most important in blood transfusion?
ABO and Rh groups
Present in normal individuals, never exposed to foreign erythrocytes
Antibodies to ABO antigens
However, formation of anti-Rh antibodies requires exposure to
Rh-antigen
Formation of anti-Rh antibodies requires exposure to Rh antigen; preventing an immune response to them is important to prevent
Hemolytic Disease of the Newborn
Terminal sugars on oligosaccharides of glycoproteins and glycolipids of the red cell membrane
ABO epitopes
There are about one million copies of the epitope on each erythrocyte, and the oligosaccharide chains extend well away from the cell surface, so that an erythrocyte is a very good target for
Anti-ABO antibodies
The precursor of ABO antigens is
H substance
Genes of the ABO system encode enzymes which add terminal sugars to
H substance
H substance with a terminal N-acetyl galactosamine added
A substance
H substance with a terminal galactose added
B substance
Converts H substance to A substance
The Ia enzyme
Converts H substance to B substance
The Ib enzyme
The product of the Io allele is non-functional and adds nothing to
H substance
Individuals make antibodies to ABO antigens they
Do not possess
These antibodies [isohemagglutinins or isoantibodies] are usually
IgM
Their synthesis does not require exposure to foreign erythrocytes; they are made in response to similar polysaccharide structures in bacteria and plants. They are called
Natural Antibodies
People of blood types A, B, AB, or O do not make
Anti-H
People who cannot convert h to H do make
Anti-H antibodies
On routine typing these people appear as Type O since they have neither A nor B antigens. This blood type is called
Bombay O
The Bombay O type is rare in Caucasians but common in some
Asian populations
Persons of Bombay O genotype will have transfusion reactions if they receive
Ordinary type O
They can be identified because their serum anti-H antibodies agglutinate
Type O red cells
Defined by the antigens present on red cells
ABO blood type
ABO antigens are also present on endothelium and must be matched in
Organ transplant
Specifies a complex group of red-cell antigens
Rh system
By far the most important antigen is the
Rh0 or D antigen