A monoclonal antibody against a Burkitt lymphoma associated antigen has an anti‐Pk red blood cell specificity

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Abstract
Summary: The blood group specificity of a rat IgM monoclonal antibody (38–13) directed against most EBV‐positive or ‐negative Burkitt's lymphoma was investigated. The target antigen was previously identified as the neutral glycolipid ceramide trihexoside (CTH), a substance which accumulates in red cells from very rare individuals of the Pk phenotype and which appears as a normal intermediate in the biosynthetic pathway of the P blood group antigen (globoside).The 38–13 antibody agglutinated Pk/1 and Pk/2 red cells at 4°C with a very high titre but was inactive against native P1, P2 and p erythrocytes, although a very weak activity was noticed towards papain‐treated P1 and P2 erythrocytes. These results were confirmed by an indirect radio‐binding assay which also demonstrated that the 38–13 antibody reacted with lymphocytes, fibroblasts and EBV‐positive lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from Pk/1 and Pk/2 individuals but not from other donors.These findings demonstrate that the 38–13 monoclonal antibody previously considered as specific of Burkitt cells could be routinely used as an anti‐Pk blood group typing reagent. The mechanism of CTH accumulation in Burkitt cells and Pk red cells is probably different and might be associated respectively with the activation of an α‐4‐galactosyltransferase or the genetic blockage of a β‐3‐N‐acetylgalactosa‐minyltransferase.