title: Origin of blood-group antigens: a self-declaration mechanism in somatic cell society.
abstract: Blood-group antigens have been developed as a self-declaration mechanism in higher organisms, since blood cells carry different DNA from that of germ-line cells, and their selfishness must be strictly limited. If not, symbiosis between somatic DNA and germ-line DNA cannot be maintained since blood cells can express autonomy programmed within themselves. For the sake of maintenance of symbiosis, this self-declaration is not limited to blood cells and all somatic cells need a self-plural declaration mechanism such as blood-group antigens. Differentiation and development including induction and inhibition also depend on the self-declaration--recognition mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Gunma University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chigira
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000916:Antibody Diversity; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D002450:Cell Communication; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000502:physiology; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000502:physiology; D006412:Hematopoietic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D007519:Isoantigens; D004247:DNA