The red cell antigens A, B, D, U, Ge, Jk3 and Yta are not detected on human granulocytes

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Abstract
The ability to detect the following red blood cell antigens on human granulocytes: A, B, D, U, Gerbich (Ge), JkaJkb (Jk3) and Cartwright (Yta) is reported. To study each antigen, granulocytes were purified on density gradients, fixed in glutaraldehyde, and the uptake of specific antisera measured using 2 direct immunological techniques: 125I-staphylococcal protein A (125I-SPA) binding and avidin-biotin-complex (ABC) immunoperoxidase staining. Glutaraldehyde fixation was shown not to affect the antigenicity when the antisera were tested using red blood cells. Using 3 anti-A, 3 anti-B and 3 anti-A,B antisera, 125I-SPA results of 47 tests with granulocytes from group A individuals and 39 tests with granulocytes from group B individuals indicate that A or B antigens are not expressed on human granulocytes. Tests using ABC were also negative with 37 and 36 granulocytes from group A or B individuals, respectively. In addition, no positive results using 125I-SPA were obtained with granulocytes from individuals having antigen positive red cells when tested with 2 anti-D (number of tests performed (n = 22), 3 anti-Ge (n = 22), 3 anti-U (n = 20), 2 anti-Jk3 (n = 17), and 3 anti-Yta (n = 25)); control anti-NA1 or -NB1 antisera were invariably positive. Also, using these antisera, no positive results were obtained by ABC except with 1 anti-Yta antiserum which was positive with 1 of 7 granulocytes tested. This anti-Yta was also positive with 3 of 10 granulocytes by 125I-SPA. This activity was shown to be due to a granulocyte-specific antibody; adsorption of the antiserum with human granulocytes removed all activity against granulocytes but did not reduce the activity against red cells. Results are in agreement with recent reports which demonstrated the absence of the A, B and D antigens on human granulocytes. Previous reports which indicated the presence of the U, Ge and Jk3 antigens on human granulocytes were not confirmed. The Yta antigen was not detected on human granulocytes.