title: Blood group ABO antigen expression in human embryonic stem cells and in differentiated hepatocyte- and cardiomyocyte-like cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of stem cells in regenerative medicine and transplantation may require grafting of cells that will challenge the recipient's immune system. Our knowledge of tissue antigen expression in human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and during their differentiation is limited, especially regarding histo-blood group AB(O)H antigens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine different hESC lines, and hESC-derived hepatocyte- and cardiomyocyte-like cells, were blood group ABO genotyped and A/B antigen expression was studied by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study reveals, for the first time, that A and B antigens in hESC were expressed according to the ABO genotype and that the antigens had a different cellular/sub-cellular distribution. In addition, several genotype A hESC lines stained positive with one anti-B antibody. Furthermore, studies of hepatocyte- and cardiomyocyte-like cells of different maturation state, originating from a blood group B hESC line, showed that hepatocyte-like cells expressed B antigens whereas cardiomyocyte-like cells were negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Since clinical stem-cell therapy is likely to be performed with immature progenitor cells, blood group ABO compatibility of donor cells/recipients should be favorable to avoid unnecessary rejection problems caused by ABO incompatibility. The in vitro loss of B antigens in a genotype B hESC line indicates that loss of ABH antigens occurs early during human embryogenesis since these antigens are lacking in adult cardiomyocytes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Campus Sahlgrenska, Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mölne
authors.forename: Petter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Björquist
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Mette
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diswall
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeppsson
authors.forename: Valeri
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Strokan
authors.forename: Lennart
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rydberg
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Breimer
mesh_terms: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System / Q000235:genetics; D001789:Blood Group Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D001787:Blood Group Incompatibility; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002855:Chromatography, Thin Layer; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005838:Genotype; D006017:Glycolipids / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D006801:Humans; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D020858:Tissue and Organ Harvesting / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000017:ABO Blood-Group System; D001789:Blood Group Antigens; D006017:Glycolipids