An antigen is a chemical substance which when
introduced parenterally into a body that lacks it, stimulates the production of
a corresponding antibody and which when mixed with the antibody, reacts with it
in some observable manners. The observable manners are agglutination, senitization and haemolysis (Abayomi, 2007).
introduced parenterally into a body that lacks it, stimulates the production of
a corresponding antibody and which when mixed with the antibody, reacts with it
in some observable manners. The observable manners are agglutination, senitization and haemolysis (Abayomi, 2007).
The membrane of each red blood cell contains millions
of antigens that are ignored by the immune system. However, when patients
receive blood transfusion, their immune system will attack any donor red blood
cells that contain antigens that differ from their self-antigens (antigens
found in the body’s own cell). Blood group antigens are either sugars or
proteins, and they are attached to various components in the red blood cell
membrane. A person’s DNA determines the type of sugar antigens that end up on
their red blood cells (Daniel, 2007).
of antigens that are ignored by the immune system. However, when patients
receive blood transfusion, their immune system will attack any donor red blood
cells that contain antigens that differ from their self-antigens (antigens
found in the body’s own cell). Blood group antigens are either sugars or
proteins, and they are attached to various components in the red blood cell
membrane. A person’s DNA determines the type of sugar antigens that end up on
their red blood cells (Daniel, 2007).
Rhesus Blood Group Antigens
The antigens of the Rh blood group are protein. The
main antigens are D, C, E, c and e which are needed by two adjacent gene, loci,
the RHD gene which encodes the RHCE proteins with the C, E, c and e antigens,
lowercase ‘d’ indicates the absence of the D antigen ( the gene is usually
deleted or otherwise non functional). The two genes RHD and RHCE are located on
chromosome 1. Rh positivity or Rh negativity is distinguished by testing for
the RHD antigen, the expression of which depends upon whatever an RHD gene has
been inherited from both parents or one parent (National Centre for
Biotechnology Information, 2014).
main antigens are D, C, E, c and e which are needed by two adjacent gene, loci,
the RHD gene which encodes the RHCE proteins with the C, E, c and e antigens,
lowercase ‘d’ indicates the absence of the D antigen ( the gene is usually
deleted or otherwise non functional). The two genes RHD and RHCE are located on
chromosome 1. Rh positivity or Rh negativity is distinguished by testing for
the RHD antigen, the expression of which depends upon whatever an RHD gene has
been inherited from both parents or one parent (National Centre for
Biotechnology Information, 2014).
The Rh antigens are thought to play a role in
maintaining the integrity of the RBC membrane. RBCs which lack Rh antigens have
an abnormal shape. Rh antigens may also be involved in the transport of ammonia
across RBC membrane (Daniel, 2007).
maintaining the integrity of the RBC membrane. RBCs which lack Rh antigens have
an abnormal shape. Rh antigens may also be involved in the transport of ammonia
across RBC membrane (Daniel, 2007).