Table of Contents
What is golden blood type?
What about donors?
Scientists attempt to create golden blood in the laboratory
Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
Among various
blood type
What is known to the public is that there is one type that is so rare that it is nicknamed golden blood or the golden blood type.The number of owners is estimated to be less than 50 people in all
world
, making it one of the most unique and important medical phenomena.
This golden blood type refers to Rh-null, a blood type that does not have Rhesus (Rh) antigens at all on the surface of red blood cells.Its rarity means scientists are now trying to develop this blood in the laboratory to save more lives.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
What is golden blood type?
Rh-null is formed due to a very rare genetic mutation.The absence of Rh antigens on red blood cells makes this blood have different characteristics compared to other blood types.
Quoting NDTV, to understand its uniqueness, it is important to know that blood type is determined by the presence of antigens, proteins or sugars on red blood cells which signal the immune system.
In Rh-null, all Rh antigens are absent.This is what makes this blood compatible with almost all other blood types as donors.
However, Otrock from the Cleveland Clinic emphasized that the term golden blood only refers to its rarity, does not mean that this blood is ‘better’ or more ‘pure’ than other types.
What about donors?
Rh-null individuals are often considered universal donors in the Rh system because their blood can be used for anyone without triggering an immune reaction due to Rh antigens.Instead, they themselves can only receive blood from other Rh-null people.
In comparison, O Negative, which is also known as a universal donor, does not have A, B or Rh-D antigens.However, O Negative blood still cannot be given to Rh-null, because it still has other Rh antigens.
“This is what makes transfusions for Rh-null owners very risky. If you receive blood with a different antigen, the body will form antibodies and can attack the donor’s blood. The next transfusion could be very dangerous,” explained Ash Toye, professor of cell biology at the University of Bristol.
Scientists attempt to create golden blood in the laboratory
Because of its rarity, researchers are trying to find a way to produce Rh-null in the laboratory.The BBC reports that scientists are trying to grow Rh-null red blood cells from reprogrammed stem cells.
Research is also exploring gene-editing technology to remove the Rh antigen from normal blood, thereby enabling the use of Rh-null in blood type genetics research and the development of new therapies.
In 2018, Ash Toye used the CRISPR-Cas9 technique to create Rh-null blood cells.However, this technology is still very tightly regulated and cannot yet be applied directly to humans.
Currently, Toye and his team are working on RESTORE, the first study to test the effectiveness of lab-grown red blood cells when transfused into the human body.These red blood cells are developed from donor stem cells, not taken directly from the human body.
New hope for patients with rare blood types
If this research is successful, laboratory cultured blood has the potential to become a very helpful source of transfusion reserves, especially for patients who have ultra-rare blood types such as Rh-null.
“For now, taking donor blood is still much more efficient and cheaper. We will still need donors in the long term,” said Toye.
“But for those with very few donors, the ability to grow blood would be a major breakthrough.”
The golden blood type may only be owned by a handful of people, but its impact on the medical world can be very broad.If this laboratory research is successful, the future of blood transfusions, especially for those with rare blood types could become much safer and more secure.
(tis/tis)
[Gambas:goldensamoyed Video]
