Further evidence that carbohydrates are the immunodeterminant structures of blood group M and N specificities

Immunol Commun. 1981;10(2):157-71. doi: 10.3109/08820138109050694.

Abstract

Terminal beta-D-galactopyranosyl (Gal) groups are implied in blood group N but not M specificity by the following findings: (a) Rabbit anti-asialoganglioside sera specific for terminal beta-Gal-(1 leads to 3)-GalNac agglutinate human group 0 M and N erythrocytes, the latter to a significantly higher titer, while rabbit anti-ganglioside GMl sera, whereas sialic acid modifies the antibody specificity, do not. The agglutination score with N erythrocytes was about twice that with M red blood cells. The asialoganglioside antibodies were readily absorbed by group 0 N erythrocytes, which were up to 10 times more efficient than group 0 M erythrocytes. Erythrocyte agglutination by the anti-asialoganglioside sera was inhibited by M and N antigen preparations isolated from group 0 red cells ghosts. N antigen was a better inhibitor. Asialoganglioside effectively inhibited the red cell agglutinations by anti-asialoganglioside serum. Ganglioside GMl did not inhibit. (b) Horse anti-pneumococcus Type XIV serum, which has anti-beta-Gal specificity, precipitated highly active N but not M substances. This precipitation was specifically inhibitable by oligosaccharides with terminal beta-Gal. (c) Beta galactosidase specifically inactivated native N and "acid-produced' N substances with the release of about three moles Gal per subunit of N antigen. It did not affect M antigen.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Absorption
  • Animals
  • Carbohydrates / immunology*
  • Cattle
  • Chemical Precipitation
  • Epitopes*
  • Glycosphingolipids / immunology
  • Hemagglutination Tests
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Immune Sera / pharmacology
  • MNSs Blood-Group System / immunology*
  • Rabbits
  • beta-Galactosidase / pharmacology

Substances

  • Carbohydrates
  • Epitopes
  • Glycosphingolipids
  • Immune Sera
  • MNSs Blood-Group System
  • beta-Galactosidase