ABO Blood types and Rh Factor

Without getting too deep into the immune system at this point, you need to know that Antigens are foreign molecules (often proteins). A foreign molecule is anything that is recognized by the body as NOT SELF. These antigens are expressed on invading organisms such as bacteria and viruses, but also on other NON-SELF molecules, such as cells or tissue donated from another person. An Antibody is a specialized type of protein that is produced by cells in our body, and secreted into the blood stream. These antibodies flow around the body, and attach to anything they recognize as foreign. Each antibody is created to recognize a specific type of foreign antigen. For instance, a person with A-type blood has RBCs with A-type antigens on their surface. Because B-type antigens are nowhere to be seen, the body produces ANTI-B ANTIBODIES, which are antibodies that recognize and bind B-antigens. Heres a summary chart that looks at antigens found on the RBCs, and the corresponding antibodies that are found in the blood of these individuals.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO MEMORIZE THIS CHART! Trust your brain. Figure it out. If a persons red blood cells (RBCs) are coated in antigen-A, then it doesnt make any sense for the same person to produce antibodies AGAINST his/her own cells. So, there wont be ANTI-A antibodies in their blood. Continue with this logic and you can figure our what antigens and antibodies are in each type, AND what other blood types they can donate to and receive donations from.

Thats all fine and good, but Whats the deal with the + or sign associated with my blood type? If you are + (positive), it means your RBCs express a surface antigen called the Rhesus factor. It can also be called antigen D. If you are (negative), then your RBCs do not express this antigen. Why is it called the Rhesus factor? Its called the Rhesus factor because it was first through experiments conducted using Rhesus monkeys. About 1900 AustrianAmerican physician Karl Landsteiner (1868-1943) developed an explanation for the phenomenon of blood rejection.

If the mother is Rh-negative and the child is Rh-positive, and the child's blood enters the woman's bloodstream during the pregnancy, labor, or delivery, the woman's immune system may respond by producing antibodies to fight off the child's antigens which are foreign to the woman's system.

That is, the woman's body may naturally produce antibodies, which attack the baby's blood, causing the baby's red blood cells to break down. The result of this incompatibility will not affect the health of the mother but it can affect the child's health. Potential health problems include jaundice, anemia, brain or heart damage, and in severe cases Rh disease can be fatal. Cool, an antibody injection that mops up antigen BEFORE a mothers own body can react to it! Thats sic! It is indeed. Where, oh where, would such a life saving technology be produced? In Winnipeg, Mb., at a rather large biotechnology company, called Cangene.