The ABO blood group system and Plasmodium falciparum malaria
Abstract
In the century since the discovery of the ABO blood groups, numerous associations between ABO groups and disease have been noted. However, the selection pressures defining the ABO distributions remain uncertain. We review published information on Plasmodium falciparum infection and ABO blood groups. DNA sequence information dates the emergence and development of the group O allele to a period of evolution before human migration out of Africa, concomitant with P falciparum's activity. The current geographic distribution of group O is also consistent with a selection pressure by P falciparum in favor of group O individuals in malaria-endemic regions. We critically review clinical reports of ABO and P falciparum infection, documenting a correlation between disease severity and ABO group. Finally, we review published data on the pathogenesis of P falciparum infection, and propose a biologic model to summarize the role of ABO blood groups in cytoadherence biology. Such ABO-related mechanisms also point to a new hypothesis to account for selection of the Le(a−b−) phenotype. Taken together, a broad range of available evidence suggests that the origin, distribution, and relative proportion of ABO blood groups in humans may have been directly influenced by selective genetic pressure from P falciparum infection.
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P. falciparum infected erythrocytes sequester in the placenta by expressing surface antigens, mainly VAR2CSA, that bind to chondroitin sulphate A.
“P. falciparum infected erythrocytes sequester in the placenta by expressing surface antigens, mainly variant surface antigen (VAR2CSA), that bind to specific receptors, mainly chondroitin sulphate A.”
From Malaria in pregnancy. (2013) · cites this paper as [62]
Cites
Adherence of <i>Plasmodium falciparum</i> to Chondroitin Sulfate A in the Human Placenta
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On the Cytoadhesion of <i>Plasmodium vivax</i> –Infected Erythrocytes
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Pathophysiology of Severe Malaria Infection
Ohiagu, F. O., Chikezie, P. C., Ahaneku, C. C., Chikezie, C. M., & Law-Obi, F. C. (2021) · Asian Journal of Health Sciences · doi:10.15419/ajhs.v7i2.492 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
- Authors
- Cserti, C. M., & Dzik, W. H.
- Affiliations
- University Health Network, Toronto General Hospital (Blood Transfusion Laboratory), Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
- Blood Transfusion Service, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
- Venue
- Blood
- Publisher
- American Society of Hematology
- Published
- 2007-10-01
- Volume
- 110
- Issue
- 7
- Pages
- 2250-2258
- ISSN
- 0006-4971 (ISSN-L)
- 1528-0020
- OpenAlex
- W2055085510
- Cited by
- 320
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 8 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 16 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 21 · 2021: 19 · 2020: 19 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 21 · 2014: 27 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 21
- FWCI
- 2.50
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Blood (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Hematology › Blood groups and transfusion
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Malaria Research and Control
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Genetics › Hemoglobinopathies and Related Disorders
- Keywords
- ABO blood group system, Plasmodium falciparum, malaria, disease severity, cytoadherence, Le(a-b-), malaria endemic areas, pathogenesis
- MeSH terms
- ABO Blood-Group System, Animals, Biological Evolution, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Plasmodium falciparum, Genome, Human, Malaria, Falciparum
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