A monoclonal antibody against a Burkitt lymphoma associated antigen has an anti-Pk red blood cell specificity.
The blood group specificity of a rat IgM monoclonal antibody (38-13) directed against most EBV-positive or -negative Burkitt's lymphoma was investigated. The target antigen was previously identified as the neutral glycolipid ceramide trihexoside (CTH), a substance which accumulates in red cells from very rare individuals of the Pk phenotype and which appears as a normal intermediate in the biosynthetic pathway of the P blood group antigen (globoside). The 38-13 antibody agglutinated Pk1 and Pk2 red cells at 4 degrees C with a very high titre but was inactive against native P1, P2 and p erythrocytes, although a very weak activity was noticed towards papain-treated P1 and P2 erythrocytes. These results were confirmed by an indirect radio-binding assay which also demonstrated that the 38-13 antibody reacted with lymphocytes, fibroblasts and EBV-positive lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from Pk1 and Pk2 individuals but not from other donors. These findings demonstrate that the 38-13 monoclonal antibody previously considered as specific of Burkitt cells could be routinely used as an anti-Pk blood group typing reagent. The mechanism of CTH accumulation in Burkitt cells and Pk red cells is probably different and might be associated respectively with the activation of an alpha-4-galactosyltransferase or the genetic blockage of a beta-3-N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase.
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M
Fellous
J P
JP
Cartron
J
J
Wiels
T
T
Tursz
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology*; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology*; D002460:Cell Line; D000939:Epitopes; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D010127:P Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D051381:Rats; D014281:Trihexosylceramides / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D010127:P Blood-Group System; D014281:Trihexosylceramides