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AN ANTIBODY TO HUMAN THYMIC HASSALL'S BODY EPITHELIUM RECOGNIZES A SUBSET OF BLOOD GROUP A ANTIGENS
Author(s) -
Telen Marilyn J.
Publication year - 1985
Publication title -
international journal of immunogenetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.41
H-Index - 47
eISSN - 1744-313X
pISSN - 1744-3121
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-313x.1985.tb00825.x
Subject(s) - antigen , antibody , glycolipid , glycoprotein , immunostaining , monoclonal antibody , epitope , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , epithelium , chemistry , immunohistochemistry , immunology , genetics
SUMMARY TE‐19, a mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb) against thymic Hassall's body epithelium, was investigated because of its cross‐reactivity with human erythrocytes. Antibody TE‐19 was found to react only with group A erythrocytes, though it reacted with Hassall's body epithelium from donors of all blood group phenotypes. TE‐19 antibody bound preferentially to cells of subgroup A 1 and reacted only weakly with A 2 and A int erythrocytes. Although it apparently bound to A antigen with both glycolipid and glycoprotein backbones, TE‐19 antibody only reacted with A antigenic moieties containing long or branched chain structures. Analysis of TE‐19 reactivity with erythrocyte membrane components using electroblotting and immunostaining techniques showed antibody reactivity with components migrating in the areas of band 4.5 and just ahead of the dye front, consistent with membrane glycolipid. It is possible that all human thymic Hassall's bodies contain epithelial cells which, irrespective of the donor's erythrocyte blood group, bear a carbohydrate antigen similar to A antigen.