Position of human blood group O(H) and phenotype‐determining enzymes in growth and infectious disease

Abstract

The human ABO(H) blood group phenotypes arise from the evolutionarily oldest genetic system found in primate populations. While the blood group antigen A is considered the ancestral primordial structure, under the selective pressure of life-threatening diseases blood group O(H) came to dominate as the most frequently occurring blood group worldwide. Non-O(H) phenotypes demonstrate impaired formation of adaptive and innate immunoglobulin specificities due to clonal selection and phenotype formation in plasma proteins. Compared with individuals with blood group O(H), blood group A individuals not only have a significantly higher risk of developing certain types of cancer but also exhibit high susceptibility to malaria tropica or infection by Plasmodium falciparum. The phenotype-determining blood group A glycotransferase(s), which affect the levels of anti-A/Tn cross-reactive immunoglobulins in phenotypic glycosidic accommodation, might also mediate adhesion and entry of the parasite to host cells via trans-species O-GalNAc glycosylation of abundantly expressed serine residues that arise throughout the parasite's life cycle, while excluding the possibility of antibody formation against the resulting hybrid Tn antigen. In contrast, human blood group O(H), lacking this enzyme, is indicated to confer a survival advantage regarding the overall risk of developing cancer, and individuals with this blood group rarely develop life-threatening infections involving evolutionarily selective malaria strains.

Association of ABO blood groups with SARS-COV-2 infection

“…Researchers have presented ndings showing that natural antibodies to human red blood cell type B antigens can directly react with some E. coli strains; therefore in a large-scale retrospective report demonstrating that patients with type B and AB have a higher risk of E. coli-related sepsis than those with type O and A [3]. At the same time, research on the relationship between ABO blood group and malaria also found that the prognosis of patients with blood type O was signi cantly better than that of patients with blood type A [4].…”

Unknown aspects of the relationship between ABO blood group system and preterm morbidities

“…After that, numerous adult studies were conducted to evaluate possible relationships between blood groups and various human diseases. 10,13,26,27 As in adult lung diseases, there is also genetic predisposition in BPD. However, BPD is a disease of the developing lung unlike adults.…”

“…Blood groups have been shown to play an important role in the development of cardiovascular, infectious, oncologic, endocrine, rheumatologic, and other diseases in various studies conducted in adults. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] The effect of blood group on neonatal conditions, especially preterm morbidities, has yet to be determined. The presence of blood group antigen on many cell surfaces may be related to the morbidity in premature infants.…”

Aspectos desconocidos de la relación entre el sistema de grupo sanguíneo ABO y las morbilidades en prematuros

“…Posteriormente, se realizaron muchos estudios en adultos para evaluar la posible relación entre los grupos sanguíneos y diferentes enfermedades. 10,13,26,27 Como sucede con las enfermedades pulmonares en los adultos, también existe una predisposición genética en la DBP. Sin embargo, a diferencia de las enfermedades en los adultos, la DBP es una enfermedad de los pulmones en desarrollo.…”

“…En diferentes estudios en adultos, se demostró que los grupos sanguíneos cumplen un papel importante en el desarrollo de enfermedades cardiovasculares, infecciosas, oncológicas, endocrinas, reumatológicas y de otros tipos. [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] Aún se debe determinar el efecto que tiene el grupo sanguíneo en las afecciones neonatales, en especial sobre las morbilidades de los prematuros. La presencia del antígeno del grupo sanguíneo en muchas superficies celulares puede estar relacionada con la morbilidad en los lactantes prematuros.…”