Serological Studies of the H Activity of Oh Red Cells with Various Anti‐H Reagents

Abstract

Several examples of human Oh cells were investigated with various anti-H reagents. After enzyme treatment of the cells with papain or neuraminidase, very high titers were obtained, particularly with some preparations of Ulex europaeus. Fractionation of anti-H Ulex showed that the anti-H component inhibitable by L-fucose required papain treatment of the Oh cells for optimal activity whereas the component not inhibitable by L-fucose agglutinated preferentially Oh cells treated with neuraminidase. The anti-H lectin Cytisus sessifolius which is not inhibitable by L-fucose gave no reaction with papain-treated Oh cells but reacted well when the Oh cells were treated with neuraminidase. Normal O cells were almost equally well agglutinated by the lectins when treated by either enzyme. The various lectin components activated by enzymes had H specificity; their activity was inhibited by purified H substance, partially inhibited by L-fucose and 2-fucosyllactose and not at all by purified Lea substance and non-secretor salivas. Despite the high titers obtained with Oh cells by the enzyme technique, the amount of H present on the red cells, judged by inhibition tests, in comparison with normal group O cells was very small.