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Zeta Potentials, van der Waals Forces and Hemagglutination
Author(s) -
Oss C.J.,
Absolom D.R.
Publication year - 1983
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.1423-0410.1983.tb01883.x
Subject(s) - van der waals force , hamaker constant , hemagglutination , chemistry , medicine , van der waals radius , immunology , antibody , molecule , organic chemistry
. It has recently become possible to determine the van der Waals (Hamaker) coefficient of erythrocytes, whilst their ζ‐potential has been known for some time. With these two data the net potential energy of interaction versus distance diagrams could be elaborated for unsensitized human erythrocytes suspensed in saline water, as well as for erythrocytes monogamously sensitized with anti‐D (Rh 0 ) antibodies of the IgG class. Unsensitized erythrocytes can approach each other, to within ≅ 79 Å of their sialoglycoprotein surfaces, leaving a distance between their actual cell membranes of ≅ 180 Å, which is considerably more than the maximum distance between the two valencies of an IgG molecule (≅ 120 Å). This explains why unaided anti‐D (Rh 0 ) antibodies of the IgG class cannot cross‐link two D (Rh 0 )‐positive erythrocytes, although cross‐linking can easily be achieved with IgM class antibodies. D (Rh 0 )‐positive erythrocytes, monogamously sensitized with antibodies of the IgG class, can approach each other to within ≅ 60 Å (between the Fc ends of the protruding antibodies), which makes cross‐linking by means of anti‐IgG antibodies of the IgG class feasible.