Blood-Group Isoantigens in Leukemic Cells: Reversibility of Isoantigenic Changes by Neuraminidase

Summary

Blood-group isoantigens A, B, H, M, and N were studied on normal and leukemic leukocytes by mixed agglutination and antibody absorption. A, B, and H were detected on normal leukocytes, whereas M and N were not. Comparative studies of normal and leukemic leukocytes showed that leukemic cells frequently had decreased amounts of A and H antigens and detectable M and N antigens. Incubation of normal leukocytes with neuraminidase did not change isoantigenic expression. Leukemic leukocytes, when incubated with neuraminidase, had an increase in the A and H antigens and a concomitant decrease in the M and N antigens when compared to untreated leukocytes. These results suggest that surface antigenic determinants in cells can be altered by glycoproteins sensitive to neuraminidase.