ABO POLYMORPHISMS AND THEIR PUTATIVE BIOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH DISEASE

The following sections are included:

• Introduction

• The Chemical Basis of ABO

  • Biosynthesis of ABH Antigens

• The Influence of Other Blood Group Systems on the Expression ABH Antigens

  • Ii Histo-Blood Group System

  • H and Secretor Histo-Blood Group Systems

  • Lewis Histo-Blood Group System

  • P Histo-Blood Group Systems

  • Other Factors Which May Influence Expression of ABH Antigens

• Phenotypic Subtypes of A and B

  • The Chemical Basis of the A₁/A₂ Phenotypes

• Frequency of the Common ABO Phenotypes

• The Genetic Basis of ABO Glycosyltransferases

  • The ABO Gene

  • ABO Alleles A¹, A², B and 0

  • ABO Subgroup Alleles (Rare Variants)

• Evolution of ABO Genes

• Tissue Distribution of ABH Antigens

• ABH Antibodies

• Relationship of ABO Polymorphisms with Disease and Physiological States

• Physiological Consequences Associated with the ABO System

  • Cell Development and Embryogenesis

  • Abortion

  • Haemolytic Disease of the Newborn

  • Phosphatase

  • Serum Cholesterol, Lipids and Potentially Associated Phenomena (Body Mass, Stature)

  • Coagulation Factors Influenced by the ABO Phenotypes

    • Factor VIII

    • von Willebrand factor (vWF)

    • Other coagulation-related factors

  • Viscosity

• Associations of Microorganisms with ABO Polymorphisms

  • Microorganism Interactions

    • Oral infections

    • Influenza infections

  • Microorganism Binding to ABH Antigens

  • Toxins

  • Antibodies and Microbes

  • The Influence of Microorganisms on the Global Distribution of Blood Types

• Diseases Associated with ABO Polymorphisms

  • Asthma and Allergies

  • Autoimmune Processes

    • Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia

    • Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura

    • Vitiligo

  • Autoimmune Diseases with Possible Infectious Aetiology

    • Arthritis

    • Ankylosing spondylitis

    • Rheumatic fever

  • Cancer

    • Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia

    • Loss or gain of antigens

    • Antibodies and cancer

  • Cardiovascular, Arteriosclerosis, Atherosclerosis Disease

  • Coagulation-Related Diseases

    • Thrombotic diseases

    • Bleeding disorders and anaemia

  • Diabetes Mellitus

  • Gastrointestinal Ulcers

  • Liver and Gall Bladder Disease

  • Multiple Sclerosis and Lupus Erythematosus

  • Musculoskeletal Associations

  • Psychological Effects and Disorders

  • Vision

• Concluding Remarks

• Acknowledgements

• References