Blood groups ABO and

Rhesus

Dr Sumaira Riffat
Dept of Physiology, JSMU.
•The differences in human blood are due to the
presence or absence of certain protein molecules
called antigens and antibodies.

•The antigens are located on the surface of the

RBCs and the antibodies are in the blood
plasma.

•Individuals have different types and

combinations of these molecules.

•The blood group you belong to depends on

what you have inherited from your parents.
• There are more than 20 genetically determined
blood group systems known today

• The AB0 and Rhesus (Rh) systems are the

most important ones used for blood transfusions.
The ABO System
 Discovered in 1901 by Dr. Karl
Landsteiner
 ABO gene located on long arm of
chromosome 9
ABO blood grouping system

According to the ABO blood

typing system there are four
different kinds of blood types:
A, B, AB and O.
AB0 blood grouping system
Blood group A
If you belong to the blood
group A, you have A
antigens on the surface of
your RBCs and B
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 RBCs and A
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
RBCs and no A or B antibodies
at all in your blood plasma.

Blood group O
If you belong to the blood group O,
you have neither A or B antigens on
the surface of your RBCs but you have
both A and B antibodies in your blood
plasma.
 ABO Antibodies
 A and B substances are very common
 Antibodies produced to “non-self ”
 Produced after first few months of life (2 to 8
months, reach maximum titer 8 to 10 years
 A & B people have mainly IgM
 O people have IgG
 Fade in old age
 ABO inheritance and genetics

• The ABO gene is autosomal (the gene is not on either sex

chromosomes)

• The ABO gene locus is located on the chromosome 9.

• A and B blood groups are dominant over the O blood group

• A and B group genes are co-dominant

• Each person has two copies of genes coding for their ABO blood
group (one maternal and one paternal in origin)
 Antigens & Antibodies

Antigens on
Blood Group Antibodies in Serum Genotypes
RBCs

A A Anti-B AA or AO

B B Anti-A BB or BO

AB A and B Neither AB

O Neither Anti-A and anti-B OO

Blood transfusions – who can
receive blood from
whom?

People with blood group O

are called "universal
donors" and people with
blood group AB are called
"universal receivers."
Blood Antigens Antibodies Can
Group donate Can
blood to receive
blood from

AB A and B None AB AB, A, B, O

A A B A and AB A and O

B B A B and AB B and O

O None A and B AB, A, B, O O

The Rh(D) Antigen

 Discovered in 1940 after work on Rhesus

monkeys
 Rh gene located on short arm of
chromosome 1
 Six types of Rh antigens C, D, E, c, d, e
 D is more antigenic
 Simple Genetics of Rh(D)
 86% of caucasians are Rh(D) pos
 The d gene is recessive:
 Dd, dD, DD, persons are Rh(D) pos
 Only dd persons are Rh(D) neg
 Inheritance
 ABO & Rh genes are not linked
 ABO & Rh(D) type are inherited independently

For example:
An A Rh(D) pos mother
and a B Rh(D) pos father
could have an O Rh(D) neg child
 Inheritance
 Rh negative person can produce anti-D antibody
when expose to antigen D
 Anti-D antibody will not develop without
exposure to antigen D
 To develop anti-D, need transfusion
- From other person
- From fetal blood to mother (Anti-D belong to
IgG & capable of crossing the placenta)
• A person with Rh- blood can develop Rh antibodies
in the blood plasma if he or she receives blood from a
person with Rh+ blood, whose Rh antigens can trigger
the production of Rh antibodies.

•A person with Rh+ blood can receive blood from

a person with Rh- blood without any problems.
 Rh system
 Rh immune response
 Delayed transfusion reaction—usually mild
 Spontaneous transfusion reaction never occur
 HEMOLYTIC DISEASE OF
NEWBORN (HDN)

ERYTHROBLASTOSIS FOETALIS

 A severe hemolytic disease of a fetus or newborn infant

caused by the production of maternal antibodies
against the fetal red blood cells, usually involving Rh
incompatibility between the mother and fetus.
 Clinical Picture

 Antibodies cause destruction of the red cells

 Anemia
 Heart failure
 Build up of bilirubin
 Kernicterus
 Severe mental retardation
 Nucleated blast forms of RBC
THANK YOU