Phenotypic conversion of human erythrocytes by H-Y antigen.
Human male erythrocytes absorb H-Y antiserum while those of human females do not. Studies on the mode of attachment of H-Y antigen to the erythrocyte membrane reveal: (1) After several washes H-Y antigen can only be removed from male erythrocytes and not from other male cells such as granulocytes. (2) Female erythrocytes absorb exogenous H-Y antigen and thus become H-Y positive. (3) Complement mediated lysis of erythrocytes by H-Y antiserum is not sex specific but is dependent on the ABO blood group type of the red blood cells. It is concluded that H-Y antigen is unspecifically attached to red blood cells and is therefore not an integral part of the erythrocyte membrane.
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology; D000042:Absorption; D000818:Animals; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000276:immunology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006182:H-Y Antigen / Q000235:genetics*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D012737:Sex Factors
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D006182:H-Y Antigen