title: Relationship between ABO blood group and levels of Gal alpha,3Galactose-reactive human immunoglobulin G.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The terminal Gal alpha1,3Galactose (alphaGal) determinant is present on all porcine glycoproteins and glycolipids, but is not expressed by human cells. Consequently human sera contain anti-alphaGal natural antibodies. The human blood group B antigen [Gal alpha1,3(Fuc1,2)Galactose] is differentiated from the alphaGal epitope by the presence of a fucosyl group.
  
  
  METHODS
  To determine whether the expression of the B antigen has any effect on the level of alphaGal-reactive natural antibodies, equal numbers (n=12) of A, B, AB, and O serum samples were evaluated by ELISA and flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant reduction in IgG alphaGal reactivity was observed with serum samples from B antigen-expressing donors (B, AB) relative to non-B antigen-expressing donors (A, O).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results are consistent with the possibility that anti-alphaGal antibodies in non-B antigen-expressing individuals include a subset that is reactive with the structurally related B antigen and that this subset is absent in B and AB individuals.
authors.affiliation: Transplantation Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02129, USA.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: McMorrow
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Comrack
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Nazarey
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Sachs
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: DerSimonian
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D000818:Animals; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D002469:Cell Separation; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000502:physiology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D007518:Isoantibodies / Q000276:immunology; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000097:blood; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D004187:Disaccharides; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007518:Isoantibodies; D007519:Isoantigens; C055075:galactosyl-(1-3)galactose