Human blood groups: incidental receptors for viruses and bacteria

Abstract

ALMOST A CENTURY AGO, the first red cell blood groups, as determined by human sera, were described. During the subsequent years, great progress was made in the recognition and grouping of relationships of various specificities. There currently are 276 discrete red cell antigens. While 61 remain to be classified, 215 of these antigens can be grouped into 23 distinct systems. In 12 of the systems there exists a null cell, which is totally devoid of any representative antigens for that system. The recognition of a link between these biologic factors and a person's susceptibility to a particular disease has encouraged in-depth analyses of the individuals with these unusual phenotypes.The discoveries of extracellular hair-like appendages of microorganisms called pili, fimbriae, or (later) adhesins, that are directly related to infectivity, and of the hemagglutinating properties of bacteria that express these extracellular appendages were the first findings related to the bacterial cell-eukaryotic cell interaction. The contribution of these early findings to the understanding of the pathogenesis of infection, however, was not recognized for a long time. Nevertheless, Escherichiu coli induced different hemagglutination patterns of both human and animal red cells, which indicated that microorganisms could detect a variety of cell types and, thus, a variety of tissue ligands.2 Further studies explored the interaction between bacterial cells and other types of cells, including yeast, plant cells, and cells of animal and human origin^.^-^ For example, E. coli carrying the type 1 fimbriae were found to attach to mannans and aggregate yeast cells.An advancement in the understanding of the pathogenic properties of organisms that cause urinary tract infections came with the use of human uroepithelial cells as targets for the binding of E. coli, Proteus mirubilis, Abbreviations: CR = complement receptor; DAF = decay-accelerating factor; Gal = galactose; GalNAc = N-acetyl-galactosamine; GPI = glycophosphatidylinositol; NeuAc = N-acetyl-neuraminic acid; RCA = regulators of complement activation; SCR(s) = short consensus repeat(s); S R region = serine-and threonine-rich domain.

Widespread balancing selection and pathogen-driven selection at blood group antigen genes

“…Such findings are in line with the vision whereby different BGAs serve as ''incidental receptors for viruses and bacteria'' (Moulds et al 1996), but also function as modulators of innate immune response (Ruiz-Palacios et al 2003;Linden et al 2008) and possibly as ''decoy-sink'' molecules targeting pathogens to macrophages (Gagneux and Varki 1999).…”

Association of ABO and Rh blood groups to HBV, HCV infections among blood donors in a blood bank of tertiary care teaching hospital in Southern India: A retrospective study

“…Furthermore, the results showed that patients with the blood group O and Rh positive were most susceptible towards HBV and HCV infections. With the help of scientific evidence it can be correlated that the level of natural antibodies resistance against the viral antigens depends on the individual's blood group 26 and Group O individuals were more resistant to dangerous sequelae of acute viral hepatitis. 27 A disproportionate excess of blood group O was found in our study.…”

Blood group O protects against severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria through the mechanism of reduced rosetting

“…It seems likely that this phenomenon represents an example of a balanced polymorphism in the human population because blood group O is thought to confer susceptibility to diseases such as cholera (36) and other diarrheal diseases (37-39) that may be a significant selective force in many malarious countries. The global distribution of ABO blood group types is complex and may be influenced by selection imposed by a variety of pathogenic microorganisms (40,41). Our work indicates that malaria is likely to be a significant factor influencing ABO blood group frequencies in tropical and subtropical regions of the world.…”