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The Occurrence of Weak I T Red Cell Antigen Among Melanesians
Author(s) -
Booth P. B.
Publication year - 1972
Publication title -
vox sanguinis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.68
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1423-0410
pISSN - 0042-9007
DOI - 10.1111/j.1423-0410.1972.tb03967.x
Subject(s) - ethnic group , antigen , red cell , immunology , biology , medicine , sociology , anthropology
. A proportion of Melanesians possess an outstandingly weak I T antigen. Their red cells are I T negative in the sense that cord bloods are I negative. Of Papuan coastal dwellers, 15.4% of 532 subjects tested were I T weak. This proportion is not constant among Melanesian ethnic groups. Of 419 New Guinea Highlanders, none was I T weak. Similarly, of 171 Caucasians tested, all had normal I T content. The phenomenon can be demonstrated on Melanesian cord bloods, and family studies confirm the genetic basis, I T w presumably reflecting a recessive homozygous state. The place of I T in the Ii system remains obscure, but the demonstration of genetic variation in this antigen independent of I and i strength, and occurring frequently in certain ethnic groups, clearly reveals hitherto unsuspected complexity.