After many decades of mystery and research, a group of scientists from the UK and Israel solved the mystery of blood group AnWj. This progress not only means that his genetic character is known, but also introduces a new system of blood groups, the so-called MAL. In addition, it also allows you to change medical approach in treatment, which represents a major advance for medicine.
This new blood group becomes 47. ranking system yet identified and represents a major advance in identifying patients with this strange condition who, if given an incompatible blood transfusion, can cause serious health problems.
A 50-year study
The AnWj antigen was first identified in 1972, when doctors found the absence of special molecule until then in all red blood cells. Since then, it has been a mystery that has not yet been solved, and the study will be published in the Journal of the American Society of Hematology Blood.
Louise Tilleythe principal investigator of the study on this blood group, dedicated 20 years of her life to uncovering it secret. “Finally implement this new blood type system and be able to offer the best care patients unusual is great an achievement and the culmination of a long team effort,” the scientist stated in a press release.
Key to the success of this study was whole-exome sequencing, a technique that allowed us to dissect ADN which encodes proteins. Therefore, it has been shown that the MAL gene mutation is responsible for the lack of AnWj antigen in specific patients. This new discovery will allow us to develop new tests genotyping in order to eliminate the danger in case the patient receives a transfusion sangre incompatible.
ABO and Rh blood groups
Most people are genetically related by blood type. Rh y ABO but the reality is that there are many more, based on the variety of proteins and sugars that coat every red blood cell in our body. These antigens act as limiters so that the human body can distinguish “what is its own” from “what is foreign”, because if a patient receives a transfusion that is not compatible with his blood type, the consequences can be fatal.
However, the characteristic is that most people who have blood type AnWj negative are negative to a large extent for some reason. type of cancer or due to hematological disorders that eliminate expression self antigen. This discovery not only satisfies scientific curiosity, but also has important practical applications. “It’s really exciting to be able to use our ability manipulate gene expression in the development of blood cells to help confirm the identity of the AnWj blood type, which has been an outstanding mystery for half a century,” he said. Ash ToyProfessor at the University of Bristol.
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