The blood group antigens (BGA)-related glycoepitopes. A key structural determinant in immunogenesis and cancer pathogenesis.
This overview has been focused on the functional and pathophysiological aspects of blood group antigens (BGA)-related glycodeterminants. It has been postulated that in a broad range of histogenetically different tissues and organs BGA-related glycoepitopes are expressed on the cell surface at definite stages of cell differentiation during embryogenesis, organogenesis, tissue repair, regeneration, remodeling and maturation when 'sorting-out' behaviour of one homotypic cell population from heterotypic assemblage of cells occurs. In this event the BGA-related glycoepitopes, if being expressed on the cell surface, play a role of key structural determinants in cell-cell recognition, association and aggregation. This mechanisms has been discussed in relation to immunogenesis regarding of antigen presentation, self-non-self discrimination, positive and negative selection during thymic education. It is postulated that the appearance of the BGA-related glycoepitopes on the cell membrane is a consequence of the association of MHC and peptides, with subsequent elimination of cells carring high density of BGA-related glycoepitopes on their surface. In cancer it has been considered as a key mechanism of phenotypic divergence of tumor cells, immunoselection, tumor progression and metastasis.
Glinsky
G V
GV
Cancer Research Center, Columbia, MO 65201.
D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002240:Carbohydrate Sequence; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000276:immunology*; D000939:Epitopes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D016233:Immunotherapy, Active; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000276:immunology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy
D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D002241:Carbohydrates; D000939:Epitopes; D007519:Isoantigens