title: Flow-cytometric analysis of erythrocytic blood group A antigen density profile.
abstract: Blood group A antigen density on red blood cells (RBC) was studied using flow cytometry (FCM) and fluoresceinated polyclonal and monoclonal IgG anti-A antisera. Agglutination was a problem, which could only be solved by prefixation of the RBC with glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde. However, this treatment resulted in a significant reduction of the number of antigen sites as compared to the native (i.e. nonfixed) RBC. Two major new findings came out of this study: (1) A antigen density on native RBC seems to be higher than previously recognized, and (2) A antigen density distribution is probably non-Gaussian. The absolute number of A antigen sites was determined, using a human polyclonal IgG antiserum and commercially available absolute fluorescence standards. The site numbers on fixed RBC were comparable to those found by earlier radioimmunological studies (x 10(6)/RBC): A1, 1.07 +/- 0.28; A2, 0.21 +/- 0.09; A1B, 0.79 +/- 0.26 sites (mean +/- SD). The values found for native RBC were considerably higher (x 10(6)/RBC): A1, 2.86 +/- 0.95; A2, 0.47 +/- 0.29; A1B, 1.98 +/- 0.58 sites (mean +/- SD). With the 1 monoclonal and the 3 polyclonal antisera used in this study, and in contrast to Rh D, the erythrocytic A antigen density distribution of a given sample is highly asymmetrical. This non-Gaussian distribution profile does not seem to be affected by such factors as antibody heterogeneity, variability in antibody fluoresceination range, RBC density and reticulocyte content. This suggests that the asymmetrical A antigen distribution may be an intrinsic property of the RBC population.
authors.affiliation: Labaratory of Experimental Hematology, University of Antwerp (UIA), Belgium.
authors.forename: Z N
authors.initials: ZN
authors.lastname: Berneman
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: van Bockstaele
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Uyttenbroeck
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Zaelen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cole-Dergent
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Muylle
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Peetermans
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000032:analysis*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D002469:Cell Separation; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens