ABO BLOOD GROUP

By
M Kasthuri Bai

History of discoveries
1900 Karl Landsteiner identified
ABO system
Agglutination occurs based on
presence of antigen on red cells
Three groups were recognized
Gp A Gp B and group O
1902, von Decastello and Sturli
discovered Group AB

Lansteiners Rules for the ABO
blood group
A person does not have antibody to his own antigens
Each person has antibody to the antigen he lacks
Below are 4 blood groups with expected antigen and
antibody
BLOOD GROUP ANTIGEN ANTIBODY
A A anti-B

B B anti-A

AB A and B none

O none anti-A and anti-B

ABO INHERITANCE
The ABO locus found on chromosome #9
We inherit one gene (allele) from either
parents.
The co-dominant alleles are A or B
Anytime an individual inherits an A or B
gene it will be expressed
O gene signifies lack of A or B antigens


Inheritance Patterns
We cant determine genotype of A or B
unless family studies are done. Some
basic rules of ABO inheritance:
A/A can only pass along A gene
A/O A or O gene
B/B only B gene
B/O B or O gene
O/O O gene
AB A or B gene
Inheritance Patterns

1= A/A 2=A/O
1 = Homozygous A 2= Heterozygous A
Phenotype A Phenotype A
Genotype A/A Genotype A/O
Contribute only A gene to Contribute A or O gene to
offspring offspring







ABO phenotypes and
genotypes
Group A phenotypes = A/A or A/O genotype

Group B phenotype = B/B or B/O genotype

Group O phenotype = O/O genotype

Group AB phenotype = A/B genotype
Offspring Possibilities
Possibilities of an A/O mating B/O
(Childrens genotypes in blue)


25% AB, 25%AO
25% BO,25%OO
Fathers Genes
Mothers
Genes
B O
A AB AO
O BO OO
Possibilities of an A/A mating B/B
(Childrens genotypes in blue)




100%
AB
Fathers Genes
Mothers
Genes
B B
A AB AB
A AB AB
Offspring Possibilities
Offspring Possibilities
Possibilities of an A/A mating B/O
(Childrens genotypes in blue)
50% AB
50% AO
Fathers Genes
Mothers
Genes
B O
A AB AO
A AB AO
Offspring Possibilities
Possibilities of an A/A mating O/O
(Childrens genotypes in blue)


100% AO Fathers Genes
Mothers
Genes
O O
A AO AO
A AO AO
Offspring Possibilities
Possibilities of an A/O mating O/O
(Childrens genotypes in blue)
50% AO
50% OO
Fathers Genes
Mothers
Genes
O O
A AO AO
O OO OO
Offspring Possibilities
Possibilities of an A/B mating B/O
(Childrens genotypes in blue)



25% AB, 25%BB
25%AO, 25%
BO
Fathers Genes
Mothers
Genes
B O
A AB AO
B BB BO
H Gene
The production of antigen A and B depends
on the action of gene H.
Most individual are homozygous for this
gene,HH.( Heterozygote, Hh cannot be
recognized) Phenotype h (genotype hh) rare.
H antigen is precursor material of A and B
antigen
H active alleles produce transferase at cellular
level to form A and B antigen
O blood group does not have A or B antigen,
thus has abundant H antigen

Production of A, B and H
antigens
The production of A,B and H antigens are
controlled by the action of transferases.
Transferases are enzymes that catalyze
addition of specific sugar to the
oligosaccaride chain.
The H, A or B genes each produce different
transferase which adds a different specific
sugar to the oligosaccharide chain.



1. Precursor chain of
sugars is formed
most frequently as
either Type 1 or
Type 2 depending
on the linkage site
between the N-
acetylglucosamine
(G1cNAc) and
Galactose (Gal).

H antigen
1. H gene causes L-
fucose to be
added to the
terminal sugar of
precursor chain,
producing H
antigen (shown in
this diagram of a
Type 2 H antigen
saccharide chain)

A antigen
A gene causes N-
acetyl-
galactosamine to
be added to H
substance,
producing A
antigen

B antigen
B gene causes D-
galactose to be
added to H
substance,
producing B
antigen

A, B and H antigens on red cells
membrane
Development of Anti-A & Anti-
B
Anti-A and Anti-B antibodies or both occur in
all individual except for those Gp AB
These antibodies formed as a result of
contact with a and B substances
Group A when comes into contact with A and
B substances will recognize the A substance
but not B and produce antibody, anti AB.

Identify the blood group

Anti-A Anti-B A
1
cell B cell

4+ 3+ 0 0

0 0 3+ 4+

3+ 0 0 3+

0 4+ 3+ 0



blood group

AB

O


A

B
THANK YOU