An isologous antigen-antibody reaction with human neutrophiles, related to neonatal neutropenia.

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Abstract
A leukocyte antigen is described that is unique to blood neutrophiles and appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of neonatal neutropenia. The antigen was identified by a leukocyte agglutinin found in plasmas of 2 unrelated mothers, each of whom had several newbornswithisoimmune neonatal neutropenia. The antibodies were demonstrated to be primarily [gamma]G-globulins. Evidence was obtained to indicate that antibodies of both mothers identified the same antigen. Cross absorption and antibody elution studies demonstrated that a single antigenic determinant with a gene frequency of 0.56 was involved. Antibody absorption and elution were achieved only by neutrophiles. The antigen was not found on red cells.platelets, mono-nuclear cells, eosinophiles, placenta, or lung, liver, or kidney cells. This antigen distribution correlates with the selective neutrophenia observed in the affected newborns. K is suggested that this specific localization of the antigen is essentil for the occurrence of neonatai neutropenia and that leukocyte antibodies directed against widely distributed antigens are not likely to affect the neutrophiles of the newborn.