TY - JOUR
T1 - Modifying the red cell surface: towards an ABO-universal blood supply
AU - Olsson, Martin L
AU - Clausen, Henrik
N1 - Keywords: ABO Blood-Group System; Blood Group Antigens; Blood Group Incompatibility; Blood Transfusion; Erythrocyte Membrane; Erythrocytes; Humans; Peptide Hydrolases; Recombinant Proteins
PY - 2007
Y1 - 2007
N2 - Eliminating the risk for ABO-incompatible transfusion errors and simplifying logistics by creating a universal blood inventory is a challenging idea. Goldstein and co-workers pioneered the field of enzymatic conversion of blood group A and B red blood cells (RBCs) to O (ECO). Using alpha-galactosidase from coffee beans to produce B-ECO RBCs, proof of principle for this revolutionary concept was achieved in clinical trials. However, because this enzyme has poor kinetic properties and low pH optimum the process was not economically viable. Conversion of group A RBCs was only achieved with the weak A2 subgroup with related enzymes having acidic pH optima. More recently, the identification of entirely new families of bacterial exoglycosidases with remarkably improved kinetic properties for cleaving A and B antigens has reinvigorated the field. Enzymatic conversion of groups A, B and AB RBCs with these novel enzymes resulting in ECO RBCs typing as O can now be achieved with low enzyme protein consumption, short incubation times and at neutral pH. Presently, clinical trials evaluating safety and efficacy of ECO RBCs are ongoing. Here, we review the status of the ECO technology, its impact and potential for introduction into clinical component preparation laboratories.
AB - Eliminating the risk for ABO-incompatible transfusion errors and simplifying logistics by creating a universal blood inventory is a challenging idea. Goldstein and co-workers pioneered the field of enzymatic conversion of blood group A and B red blood cells (RBCs) to O (ECO). Using alpha-galactosidase from coffee beans to produce B-ECO RBCs, proof of principle for this revolutionary concept was achieved in clinical trials. However, because this enzyme has poor kinetic properties and low pH optimum the process was not economically viable. Conversion of group A RBCs was only achieved with the weak A2 subgroup with related enzymes having acidic pH optima. More recently, the identification of entirely new families of bacterial exoglycosidases with remarkably improved kinetic properties for cleaving A and B antigens has reinvigorated the field. Enzymatic conversion of groups A, B and AB RBCs with these novel enzymes resulting in ECO RBCs typing as O can now be achieved with low enzyme protein consumption, short incubation times and at neutral pH. Presently, clinical trials evaluating safety and efficacy of ECO RBCs are ongoing. Here, we review the status of the ECO technology, its impact and potential for introduction into clinical component preparation laboratories.
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2007.06839.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2007.06839.x
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 17970801
SN - 0963-1860
VL - 140
SP - 3
EP - 12
JO - British Journal of Haematology, Supplement
JF - British Journal of Haematology, Supplement
IS - 1
ER -