Blood Transfusion: Donor Antibody Response

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the mechanisms preventing donor antibodies in transfused blood from attacking the recipient's cells during blood transfusions. It explores concepts related to blood groups, antibody presence, and the nature of transfusions, including the separation of red blood cells from plasma.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants note that individuals with blood group A do not produce antibodies against their own antigens, allowing for safe transfusions between compatible blood types.
  • It is mentioned that blood group O individuals have no antigens on their cells, which theoretically allows them to donate blood to anyone without triggering an immune response.
  • A question is raised regarding whether blood group O individuals develop antibodies against A and B antigens only after exposure, and if these antibodies would attack the recipient's red blood cells during transfusion.
  • Another participant suggests that antibodies are not continuously produced and that their presence depends on prior exposure to the corresponding antigens.
  • It is clarified that packed red blood cells are used in transfusions, which are separated from the plasma where antibodies would be present, potentially mitigating the risk of an immune response.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty about the conditions under which blood group O individuals develop antibodies and whether these antibodies would pose a risk in transfusions. There is no consensus on the specifics of antibody presence and its implications for transfusion safety.

Contextual Notes

The discussion highlights the complexity of blood transfusions, including the role of antibodies and the separation of blood components, but does not resolve the uncertainties regarding antibody responses in different blood groups.

brainyman89
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why don't the donor's antibodies(found in the transferred blood) attack the receiver's cells during blood transfusion?
 
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brainyman89 said:
why don't the donor's antibodies(found in the transferred blood) attack the receiver's cells during blood transfusion?

If you have blood group A, your body doesn't produce antibodies against your own antigens. So blood group A person can transfer blood to another blood group A person. If you have blood group 0, you have no antigens on your cell membrane, so receiver would not attack you, if you are the donor. So you can give blood to everyone if you are O. So blood transfusion is closely matched to make sure what you are saying would not occur. Cheers :smile:
 
sameeralord said:
If you have blood group A, your body doesn't produce antibodies against your own antigens. So blood group A person can transfer blood to another blood group A person. If you have blood group 0, you have no antigens on your cell membrane, so receiver would not attack you, if you are the donor. So you can give blood to everyone if you are O. So blood transfusion is closely matched to make sure what you are saying would not occur. Cheers :smile:

What i meant to ask is: suppose you are of blood group O, then your blood will contain antibodies ant-A and anti-B, if you transfer this blood to an individual (receiver) of blood group A for example, then would the antibodies anti-A in the donor's blood attack the receiver's RBC's of blood group A.
 
brainyman89 said:
What i meant to ask is: suppose you are of blood group O, then your blood will contain antibodies ant-A and anti-B, if you transfer this blood to an individual (receiver) of blood group A for example, then would the antibodies anti-A in the donor's blood attack the receiver's RBC's of blood group A.

Hey, that's a good question. Does a blood group 0 person develop antibodies for A and B, only if they are exposed to these antigens or it doesn't have to be that way? I'm not sure and also are only Red blood cells transferred in transfusions. Hopefully someone else who knows this can answer this.
 
brainyman89 said:
What i meant to ask is: suppose you are of blood group O, then your blood will contain antibodies ant-A and anti-B, if you transfer this blood to an individual (receiver) of blood group A for example, then would the antibodies anti-A in the donor's blood attack the receiver's RBC's of blood group A.

Like Sameer suggests, you'd only have those antibodies if you had prior exposures and even if you did your body wouldn't keep a constant circulating supply of them going (antigen specific antibodies are expensive to make, which is why our immune shuts down to "storage mode" after an immune response via memory cells).

We also use packed RBCs, which are red blood cells separated from whole blood. So the transfusion is really a nutrient solution containing the RBCs and none of the donor plasma (which is where the antibodies would be found).
 

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