Origin of blood-group antigens: A self-declaration mechanism in somatic cell society

Blood-group antigens have been developed as a self-declaration mechanism in higher organisms, since blood cells carry different DNA from that of germ-line cells, and their selfishness must be strictly limited. If not, symbiosis between somatic DNA and germ-line DNA cannot be maintained since blood c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical hypotheses 1996-03, Vol.46 (3), p.290-294
Main Author: Chigira, M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antibody Diversity
Antigens
Biological and medical sciences
Blood group antigens
Blood Group Antigens - genetics
Cell Communication
DNA - genetics
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Fundamental immunology
Gene Expression - physiology
Germ Cells - physiology
Hematopoietic Stem Cells - physiology
Homeostasis - physiology
Humans
Isoantigens - genetics
Molecular immunology
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Summary:Blood-group antigens have been developed as a self-declaration mechanism in higher organisms, since blood cells carry different DNA from that of germ-line cells, and their selfishness must be strictly limited. If not, symbiosis between somatic DNA and germ-line DNA cannot be maintained since blood cells can express autonomy programmed within themselves. For the sake of maintenance of symbiosis, this self-declaration is not limited to blood cells and all somatic cells need a self-plural declaration mechanism such as blood-group antigens. Differentiation and development including induction and inhibition also depend on the self-declaration-recognition mechanism.
ISSN:0306-9877
1532-2777
DOI:10.1016/S0306-9877(96)90258-3