Expression of ABH and X (Lex) Antigens on Platelets and Lymphocytes

• Published in: Blood 1988-04, Vol.71 (4), p.1113-1119
• Main Authors: Mollicone, Rosella, Caillard, Thierry, Pendu, Jacques Le, Francois, Anne, Sansonetti, Nicole, Villarroya, Henri, Oriol, Rafael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ABO Blood-Group System - immunology; Adult; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Blood Platelets - chemistry; Blood Platelets - enzymology; Cell Line, Transformed; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Fucosyltransferases - analysis; Fucosyltransferases - metabolism; Galactoside 2-alpha-L-fucosyltransferase; Humans; Immunoassay; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - chemistry; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - enzymology; Lewis Blood Group Antigens - immunology; Lymphocytes - chemistry; Lymphocytes - enzymology; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins - analysis
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood.V71.4.1113.1113

We used a panel of reagents, polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies, and lectins to define the expression of the ABH-and Lewis-related specificities on platelets and lymphocytes. We also determined the expression of the a2- and a3-L-fucosyltransferases necessary for their biosynthesis. The antigens that could be detected by immunofluorescence and Western blot analysis were based on type 2 monofucosylated structures. Antibodies directed toward types 1, 3, and 4 ABH-, X- and Lewis-related antigenic determinants were always negative because the small amounts of ABH and Lewis antigens adsorbed from the serum could not be detected by these techniques. The presence of the type 2 ABH antigens on intrinsic glycoproteins was controlled by the H gene. This correlates with the presence of a2-L-fucosyltransferase and the absence of a3-L-fucosyltransferase on platelets. In contrast, ABH anti- gens were not detected by immunofluorescence on normal peripheral lymphocytes. These cells thus have only the small amounts of antigens adsorbed from the serum, these being under control of the secretor and Lewis genes. This correlates with the absence of α2-L-fucosyltransferase on lymphocytes. When lymphocytes were transformed in vitro by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), however, they strongly expressed the X and sialylated X antigens, which are specific markers of normal granulocytes and monocytes, respectively. Treatment of EBV-transformed lym-phoblastoid cell lines with 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-0-acetate significantly decreased the expression of X and sialylated X antigens along with that of surface immuno-globulins, whereas it induced a significant expression of the H antigen under control of the H gene.© 1988 by Grune & Stratton, Inc. 0006-4971/88/7104-0030$ 3.00/0