Evidence that the low-incidence red cell antigens Rla and Lsa are identical

Testing of Ls(a+) and Rl(a+) red cells with numerous antisera containing antibodies to low-incidence antigens indicated that these antigens are identical. This conclusion was confirmed by adsorption and elution tests, and supported by immunoblotting of Ls(a+) and Rl(a+) cells with antibodies to glycophorin C and glycophorin D.     

Antibodies to hen and duck antigens in poultry workers

Serum antibodies to avian and Aspergillus antigens were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) in forty-two workers from a poultry abattoir and in twenty healthy blood donors. The levels of IgG and IgA antibodies to hen and duck serum were significantly higher in poultry workers than in blood donors (P<0.01). In workers employed for less than 1 year the antibody levels were lower than in those who had been employed for a longer period of time (P<0.05). The IgA antibody level to a high molecular weight Aspergillus antigen was higher in poultry workers than blood donors (P<0-05), whereas the level of other Aspergillus antibodies were similar in the two groups. The level of IgG antibodies to hen antigen was higher in non-smokers than in smokers (P<0-02). A correlation between the antibody levels to hen and duck antigens and to pigeon antigen was found (P<0.05). indicating cross-reactivity between these antibodies. No cases of allergic alveolitis were found, and no correlation between antibody levels and respiratory symptoms could be demonstrated.     

IgA-associated renal diseases: Antibodies to environmental antigens in sera and deposition of immunoglobulins and antigens in glomeruli

Levels of IgA1, IgA2, IgM, and IgG antibodies specific for 10 ubiquitous food and bacterial antigens were examined by radioimmunoassay in the sera of 29 patients with IgA-associated renal diseases and 22 normal individuals. No significant differences were observed between patient and normal groups in the levels of IgA1 antibodies, and IgA2 antibodies were detected in only a few individuals in either group. Minor differences in IgM or IgG antibodies were seen against some antigens. Significant positive correlations between IgA1 and IgG and between IgA1 and IgM antibodies to casein were found in the patient group. Analysis of the molecular form of serum IgA1 antibodies revealed that although the pattern of polymeric and monomeric forms varied between individuals and between antibody specificities, there was no preponderance of one form in either patient or normal groups. Examination of kidney biopsies from 50 patients with IgA-associated renal diseases revealed that IgA1 represented the predominant subclass deposited in the glomerular mesangium; glomeruli from three patients contained both IgA1 and IgA2. Seventy-eight percent of the patients also had deposits of IgM, although IgA and IgM deposits did not always coincide. When IgG was present in glomeruli (45% of patients), the IgG1 subclass predominated. J chain was detectable in glomeruli of only four patients. C3 was detected in glomeruli of 95% of the patients, although the distribution of C3 did not always coincide with that of IgA. Indirect immunofluorescence staining with rabbit antisera to various environmental antigens showed that milk protein antigens could be deposited in association with IgA in the glomerular mesangium.     

The ISBT 700 series of low-incidence and 901 series of high-incidence blood group antigens

The International Society of Blood Transfusion Working Party on Terminology for Red Cell Surface Antigens developed a terminology that brought order to the chaos of antigen names. They classified antigens into three categories: systems, collections, and series. This review summarizes the early decisions of the Working Party with an emphasis on the 700 series of low-incidence antigens and 901 series of high-incidence antigens.     

Synthetic antigens as immunogens: Part II: Antibodies to synthetic T antigen

Antibody to the carbohydrate moiety of T antigen was developed. The synthetic antigen (Gal beta 1----3 GalNAc alpha 1----OC6H4N = N-BSA) was prepared by coupling the diazonium salt of the disaccharide derivative Gal beta 1----3 GalNAc alpha 1----OC6H4NH2 (o) with bovine serum albumin. Specificity of the antibody produced was examined with structurally related synthetic saccharides using the enzyme immunoassay technique. The presence of a glycosyl group at 0-6 of either the Gal or the GalNAc residue of the disaccharide Gal beta 1----3 GalNAc did not prevent binding of the antisera to the saccharide moiety. However, the antisera did not bind either the trisaccharide moiety NeuAc2----3 Gal beta 1----3 GalNAc alpha 1----OC6H4NO2 (o) or GlcNAc beta 1----3 Gal beta 1----3 GalNAc alpha OBn. These observations indicate that antibody approach to the antigen is to the 0-3 side of the terminal galactose in the disaccharide Gal beta 1----3 GalNAc. We have also observed that the antibody prefers Gal beta 1----3 GalNAc alpha 1----to Gal beta 1----3 GalNAc beta 1----disaccharide derivatives in its binding capacity. The antibody was found to bind natural T antigen present on neuraminidase-treated red blood cells and, by immunohistochemical analysis, it was found to bind to naturally occurring T antigen on breast tumor cells.     

Occurrence of antibodies to low-incidence antigens among a cohort of multiply transfused patients with sickle cell disease

Data from an immunohematology reference laboratory were compiled retrospectively to determine the occurrence of the formation of alloantibodies to low-incidence antigens associated with the African American population (AA-LIAs) among patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). The AA-LIAs under study were V, VS, Js(a), and Go(a). The records from 137 recurrently transfused patients with SCD were selected on the basis of transfusion activity from the 2009 calendar year. We found that 13 patients (9.49%) exhibited one or more antibodies to AA-LIAs, and a total of 17 antibodies to these AA-LIAs have been developed by these patients. The occurrence of antibody formation to AA-LIAs is significantly greater than that of alloantibodies to low-incidence antigens in the general population. Considering the possibility of the presence of antibodies to AA-LIAs in multiply transfused patients with SCD is warranted.     

Antibodies to EB virus- and cytomegalovirus-induced antigens in early rheumatoid disease

Early rheumatoid arthritis patients were identified in a group of people, presenting for the first time with symptoms of joint disease. Antibodies to the rheumatoid arthritis nuclear antigen (RANA) and the early antigen of cytomegalovirus (CMV-EA) were determined in serum samples by indirect immunofluorescence. The results indicate that elevated titres of RANA antibodies are present in early rheumatoid patients, but are not a good diagnostic marker of rheumatoid disease, due to the high incidence in normal subjects and disease control patients. Strong reactions to CMV-EA were seen in a proportion of the early patients but were rare in established disease, suggesting that recent infection with this virus might be an early feature.     

Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens in rheumatoid arthritis: relationship to vasculitis and circulating immune complexes

Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens (ENA) were analysed in the sera of fifty-two patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were divided into two categories: twenty-five with arthritis only and twenty-seven with extra-articular disease. Using haemagglutination, counterimmunoelectropheresis (CIE) and double diffusion, antibodies to ENA were detected in three (12%) of the patients with arthritis only. In the group with extra-articular disease, antibodies were found in sixteen (59%) of the patients. In ten patients the antibodies reacted with an RNase and DNAse resistant, but trypsin sensitive protein component of ENA. These patients all had extraarticular disease with digital vasculitis being a particularly common feature. Their sera also contained circulating immune complexes detected by elevated cryoprecipitate protein levels associated with relatively low complement levels. It is suggested that antibodies to soluble proteins of nuclear origin may be markers of circulating immune complexes in extra-articular RA.     

Antibodies to Campylobacter flagellin recognize epitopes common to phase 1 and phase 2 flagella

We used a simple method to obtain purified flagellin from Campylobacter, suitable for an immunization procedure in mice. Western blot analysis of cross-reacting antibodies showed that there were epitopes common to phase 1 and 2 flagellins. Analysis by ELISA suggested that certain common flagellar epitopes are conformational, and antibody immobilization tests confirmed that common surface-exposed epitopes exist in a region of flagella necessary for conferring motility to the bacteria.     

Antibodies to blood group antigens mimic pemphigus staining patterns: a useful reminder

Pemphigus is a clinically important autoimmune skin disease characterised by intercellular substance antibodies, detected by indirect immunofluorescence on monkey oesphagus tissue. It has been observed that anti-A and anti-B blood group antibodies can produce staining patterns similar to that seen in pemphigus, yet this potential problem is not well recognised. We have demonstrated false positive pemphigus staining with blood group O sera and describe features by fluorescence and confocal microscopy, which may be useful in distinguishing true from false positive pemphigus staining.     

Antibodies to hepatitis A and B viral antigens in commercial gamma-globulin preparations

Radioimmunoassay was used to study the presence of antibodies to hepatitis A and B virus antigens in commercial gamma-globulin preparations produced in 20 towns of the USSR. Antibodies to hepatitis A virus were found in all gamma-globulin lots tested, their titres varying from 1:10 to 1:1000. Anti-HBs in titres from 1:1 to 1:32 were found only in 66% of the lots tested, being present in all the lots produced in Moscow and Gorkiy and only in half of the lots produced in Tashkent. Antibodies to HBcAg and HBeAg of hepatitis B virus were found in all the lots gamma-globulin tested, their titres falling within the range of 1:100 1:4000 (anti-HBc) and 1:32-1:64 (anti-HBe).     

Antibodies to extractable nuclear antigens in connective tissue disorders in India: prevalence and clinical correlations

Antibodies to Extractable Nuclear Antigens (ENAs) namely Sm, nRNP, SS-A and SS-B were studied in 397 patients with various connective tissue diseases (CTD), 146 patients with inflammatory polyarthropathies, 16 cases of systemic vasculitides, and 39 normal subjects using counterimmunoelectrophoresis and double immunodiffusion methods. Anti-ENA antibodies were positive in 40.8 percent cases of Systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n = 191), 36.4 percent of overlap CTD (OCTD, n = 44), 27.8 percent of Sjogren's syndrome (n = 18), 10.6 percent of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS, n = 66) and 2.7 percent of rheumatoid arthritis (n = 111) patients. The correlation of these antibodies with disease features was done. The significant finding was negative association of anti-nRNP antibodies (when present alone) with renal involvement. Anti-Sm antibodies did not correlate with any disease feature. The other associations included correlation of anti-nRNP with pulmonary parenchymal lesions, anti-SS-A with serositis and pulmonary hypertension, and anti-SS-B with myocarditis and recurrent diarrhoea. We conclude that Anti-ENAs may correlate with certain subsets of these diseases but the subject is controversial.     

Antibodies to Campylobacter flagellin recognize epitopes common to phase 1 and phase 2 flagella

We used a simple method to obtain purified flagellin from Campylobacter, suitable for an immunization procedure in mice. Western blot analysis of cross-reacting antibodies showed that there were epitopes common to phase 1 and 2 flagellins. Analysis by ELISA suggested that certain common flagellar epitopes are conformational, and antibody immobilization tests confirmed that common surface-exposed epitopes exist in a region of flagella necessary for conferring motility to the bacteria.