Studies on Lewis Blood Group System.

Abstract

Anti-Le^a(T), anti-Le^b, and anti-Le^c cold incomplete agglutinins and precipitins were produced by immunizing the rabbits with secretor and non-secretor human saliva. And according to the reaction against these antibodies, Lewis blood group system was divided into three groups, Le(a+b-c-), Le(a-b+c-), and Le(a-b-c+). Among adults, those of Le(a+b-c-) group belonged to non-secretors, and in their saliva only Le^a substance was demonstrated. Those of Le(a-b+c-) group belonged to secretors, and in their saliva, Le^a substance was demonstrated besides Le^b. And those of Le(a-b-c+) group belonged to secretors or infrequently to non-secretors, and in some of them Le^a substance, and in the others Le^b substance was principally demonstrated besides Le^c in saliva. All the Lewis substances from saliva were decomposed by the O(H)-decomposing enzyme derived from Bacillus fulminans.