Analysis of the expression of H, Lewis, X, Y and precursor blood group determinants in saliva and red cells using a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies.
Salivary glycoproteins from 33 normal individuals were analyzed with a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies to H-1, H-2, Lea, Leb, X, Y and precursor blood group determinants. Samples from 19/33 individuals co-expressed Leb and Y-determinants (secretors) and 6/33 co-expressed Lea and X-determinants (non-secretors). Erythrocytes of these individuals were typed Le (a-b+) and Le (a + b-), respectively. In seven other salivas, only one specificity, either Lea, Leb, X or Y, was expressed and in one sample none of these determinants could be detected. Only one saliva sample expressed H-1 specificity and none expressed H-2 or type 1 precursor determinants. The absence of H-1 and H-2 structures in secretors and the resulting expression of difucosylated Leb and Y-structures is probably a tissue-specific trait of salivary gland secretions. The strict co-expression of Leb with Y and Lea with X supports the conclusion that only one 2-O-fucosyl-galactose transferase, which can fucosylate both type 1 and type 2 chains, exists in salivary glands. The finding that a number of individuals expressed neither X- nor Y-specificities was unexpected in view of previous work showing that the 3-O-fucosyl N-acetylglucosamine transferase involved in forming this structure is a ubiquitous enzyme. The individualistic expression of blood group phenotypes in tissues should be considered when the altered expression of blood groups in malignancy and other diseases is studied.
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010641:Phenotype; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D000939:Epitopes; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007983:Lewis Blood Group Antigens