Premium
Expression of A Antigens on Erythrocytes of Weak Blood Group A Subgroups
Author(s) -
Heier Hans Erik,
Namork Ellen,
Čalkovská Zdenká,
Sandin Randi,
Kornstad Leif
Publication year - 1994
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.1423-0410.1994.tb00315.x
Subject(s) - antigen , monoclonal antibody , oligosaccharide , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , immune system , red blood cell , pan t antigens , epitope , chemistry , immunology , biochemistry
Scanning immune electron microscopy using a monoclonal anti‐A antibody which reacts with all type A oligosaccharide chains revealed A antigens on less than 5% of A m and A el cells, some of which showed extremely strong labelling. This explains why A m and A el cells can absorb significant amounts of anti‐A without being agglutinated. A 3 may be a heterogenous subgroup, since A antigens were found on 82 and 58%, respectively, of the cells of 2 A 3 individuals. A antigens were found on 75% or more of A x cells. In many weak A individuals A‐positive cells are apparently best detected if an anti‐A is used which reacts strongly with other A oligosaccharide chains than type 2. From hyperimmune pregnancy sera A x , A m and A el erythrocytes absorbed antibodies which seemed to have other fine specificities than those absorbed by A 2 cells. We conclude that weak subgroups of A may deviate from A 2 both by number of erythrocytes expressing A antigens and the biochemical nature of the antigens.