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Anti‐T haemolysins: the effects of sialic acid removal and 2‐aminoethylisothiouronium bromide treatment of erythrocytes on immune lysis
Author(s) -
des Roziers N. Burin,
Bodivit G.,
Chadebech P.,
Nzouakou R.,
Bierling P.,
NoizatPirenne F.
Publication year - 2011
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.1423-0410.2010.01450.x
Subject(s) - lysis , hemolysin , hemolysis , sialic acid , immune system , chemistry , red blood cell , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , bromide , medicine , biology , biochemistry , virulence , gene , organic chemistry
Background and Objectives Intravascular haemolytic reactions are reported in red‐cell T‐activated patients after blood transfusion. The relationship between T antigen antibodies present in normal plasma and these reactions remains unclear. In this study, we assessed the haemolytic activity of T antibodies in vitro in comparison with anti‐A/B antibodies. Materials and Methods We established a haemolysis assay based on treating target red‐blood‐cells (RBCs) with 2‐aminoethylisothiouronium bromide (AET). Two hundred and seven blood donor sera were analysed for anti‐T, anti‐A/B haemolysins and anti‐T agglutinins. Results Anti‐T haemolysins were found in 4 (1·9%) blood donor sera using a standard haemolysis method and in 174 (84%) samples using AET‐treated RBCs. Haemolysis correlated with agglutination titres ( P < 10 −7 ). With both methods, anti‐T haemolysins were much weaker than anti‐A and anti‐B haemolysins. Gradual desialylation of RBCs showed a correlation between sialic acid level as indicated by agglutination with Sambucus nigra lectin and anti‐T mediated haemolysis that was significantly increased (fold 2·4) independently of T antigen expression. Conclusion These data indicate that, in vitro , anti‐T‐mediated haemolysis depends primarily on the degree of desialylation of target RBCs. They suggest that the haemolytic activity of T antibodies‐containing human sera is usually weak and may only become significant in the very rare setting of a profound desialylation of RBCs.