Relationship between ABO blood group and levels of Gal alpha,3Galactose-reactive human immunoglobulin G.
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.
McMorrow
I M
IM
Transplantation Biology Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02129, USA.
Comrack
C A
CA
Nazarey
P P
PP
Sachs
D H
DH
DerSimonian
H
H
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
D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D004187:Disaccharides; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007518:Isoantibodies; D007519:Isoantigens; C055075:galactosyl-(1-3)galactose