Study on the expression of ABH antigens on platelets.
We recently examined a case of refractoriness to HLA-matched, ABO-incompatible platelet transfusions. The transfused platelets that were rapidly cleared from the circulation of the recipient expressed an amount of B antigen more than 20 times that expressed by the blood group B platelets that were successfully transfused to the recipient. These observations led us to conduct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting studies of the amount of blood A and B antigens expressed on the surface of platelets from randomly selected donors. The donors were clearly classified, according to the amount of A or B antigen expressed on their platelets, into two phenotypes, the high-expression and low-expression phenotypes. By ELISA, 7% of the examined donors were determined as belonging to the high-expression phenotype of either A or B antigen. The high-expression phenotype was independent of secretor phenotype. In transferase activity assay, a donor with high expression of B had increased B transferase activity in her serum, which suggested that the high-expression phenotype might be under the control of the glycosyltransferase gene. Family studies showed a dominant inheritance pattern of the high-expression phenotype. This report provides evidence that the expression of ABH antigens on platelets is genetically determined and that the ABO group should be given some attention in platelet transfusions.
Ogasawara
K
K
Japanese Red Cross Tokyo Metropolitan Blood Center.
Ueki
J
J
Takenaka
M
M
Furihata
K
K
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000368:Aged; D016913:Blood Component Transfusion / Q000379:methods; D001782:Blood Donors; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010375:Pedigree; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000276:immunology
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D007518:Isoantibodies; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins