Ethnic differences in the expression of blood group antigens in the salivary gland secretory cells from German and Japanese non-secretor individuals.
Type 1 ABO blood group antigens (peripheral core structure: Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc beta 1-R) are expressed mainly in endodermally-derived tissues, but are not synthesized in mesodermally-derived tissues. In the former tissues, H type 1 antigen is generated largely by alpha-2-L-fucosyltransferase encoded by secretor (Se) gene and acting on the terminal galactose of the type 1 precursor chain. This theory has been generally accepted, and it seems that the expression of ABO blood group antigens is absent, or expressed at a low level, in these tissues from non-secretor individuals. In this immunohistochemical study on the secretory cells of salivary glands, we found ethnic difference between German and Japanese non-secretor individuals in the expression of blood group antigens: i.e. the expression of the type 1 blood group antigens is present in these cells from Japanese non-secretor individuals but absent from German. A possible explanation is that another alpha-2-L-fucosyltransferase, independent of the secretor gene, is present in Japanese non-secretor individuals.
Tanegashima
A
A
Department of Legal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan.
Nishi
K
K
Fukunaga
T
T
Rand
S
S
Brinkmann
B
B
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*; D000941:Antigens / Q000235:genetics*; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D005006:Ethnicity; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000276:immunology*; D044465:White People / Q000235:genetics
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000941:Antigens