Serological Studies of the H Activity of Oh Red Cells with Various Anti‐H Reagents

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Abstract
Several examples of Oh cells have been investigated with various anti‐H reagents. After enzyme treatment of the cells with either papain or neuraminidase, very high titres were obtained, particularly with some preparations of Ulex europeus. Fractionation of anti‐H Ulex showed that the anti‐H component inhibitable by L‐fucose required papain treatment of the Oh cells for optimal activity whereas the component not inhibitable by L‐fucose agglutinated preferentially Oh cells treated with neuraminidase. The anti‐H lectin Cytisus sessifolius which is not inhibitable by L‐fucose gave no reaction with papain‐treated Oh cells but reacted well when the Oh cells were treated with neuraminidase. Normal O cells were almost equally well agglutinated by the lectins when treated by either of the two enzymes. That the various lectin components activated by enzymes had H specificity was shown by the fact that their activity was inhibited by purified H substance, partially inhibited by L‐fucose and 2‐fucosyllactose and not at all by purified Lea substance and non‐secretor salivas.In spite of the high titres obtained with Oh cells by the enzyme technique, the amount of H present on the red cells, judged by inhibition tests, in comparison with normal group O cells was very small.