Persistent Mixed‐Field Polyagglutination

Abstract

Summary. An example of persistent mixed‐field polyagglutination of the Tn‐type is described, with particular reference to the value of plant seed agglutinins in the elucidation of polyagglutinable states. Extracts of the seeds of Dolichos biflorus, Bauhinia variegata and Wistaria sinensis strongly agglutinate Tn‐polyagglutinable cells. Inhibition studies indicate that N‐acetylgalactosamine may be an important determinant of Tn‐specificity. Positively charged polymers such as polybrene aggregate normal erythrocytes but not those appreciably deficient in sialic acid such as T‐ or Tn‐polyagglutinable cells. This observation forms the basis of a simple method of separating polyagglutinable from non‐agglutinating cells in a mixed‐field Tn‐polyagglutination. There are indications that Tn‐polyagglutinability, haemolytic anaemia, leucopenia and thrombocytopenia may constitute a distinct haematological syndrome.

Demonstration of T‐Transferase Deficiency in Tn‐Polyagglutinable Blood Samples

“…Tn or T-activated red cells, as well as protease or neuraminidase-treated cells are not agglutinated by Polybrene [7,55,56]. This property has been used [7] to distinguish two cell populations within the same Tn-blood sample : (a) Polyprene-negative cells or true Tn-cells and (b) Polybrene-positive cells or nonTn cells, which are considered to be normal erythrocytes by some investigators [14] but abnormal by others Aggregation scores as in Table 1 [9].…”

“…Since a limited amount of some of the Tn-bloods was available only 5 samples (Da, Go, Tr, Ma and Pi) were separated by the Polybrene procedure as described by Bird et al [7]. All reactions were conducted at 4 "C.…”

“…The following scheme relating Tn, T and MN antigens has been proposed by Springer Sturgeon et al [14] and others [6,7,9,26,36] have clearly shown that Tn activation is characterized by exposure of the 'A-like' receptors AHm, ADb and AH^, as judged by serological studies with anti-A reagents from human sera (AH,,,), Dolichos biforus (ADb) and Helix pomatia (AHp). Moreover, these 'A-like' receptors are distinguished by their sensitivity to protease treatment since AH,,,, ADb and Tn [6,36] are destroyed by papain and ficin while AHP is not [14].…”

The Electrokinetic Behavior of Red Blood Cells from a Patient with Tn Syndrome by Doppler Electrophoretic Light Scattering Analysis.

“…We therefore concluded that the zeta potential population of peak I and peak II corresponded to the to RBCs and Tn RBCs, respectively. The zeta potential of RBCs reflects the net surface charge of the RBCs, which mainly depends on the sialic acid content of the RBCs surface (Bird et al 1971) and the RBCs with reduced zeta potential exhibit enhanced agglutinability (Myllyla et al 1971). The RBCs from Tn syndrome are deficient of sialic acid, depending on the incompletely synthesized oligosaccharide side chains of the glycophorins of Tn RBCs (Dahr et al 1974), so that the zeta potential of Tn RBCs would reduce rapidly.…”

Expression of the Tn antigen on erythroid cells from a patient with Tn syndrome

“…The Tn syndrome is an acquired clonal disorder characterized by the exposure of a normally hidden determinant, the Tn antigen, on the surface of human erythrocytes, platelets, granulocytes, and lymphocytes (Bird et at., 1971;Vainchenker et al, 1985). This disorder may be associated with a mild hemolytic anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia, but has also been described in some acute leukemias or myeloproliferative diseases (Bird et al, 1976;Baldwin et al, 1979;Ness et aI., 1979;Vainchenker et al, 1985).…”