Red Cell Antigens P (Globoside) and Luke: Identification by Monoclonal Antibodies Defining the Murine Stage‐Specific Embryonic Antigens ‐3 and ‐4 (SSEA‐3 and SSEA‐4)1

Abstract

Two globoseries antigens (antigens borne on carbohydrate chains containing globoside), SSEA-3 and SSEA-4, were found on the red cells of the majority of people, but were absent from cells of rare p and Pk individuals which lack globoside. In addition, SSEA-4 was absent from red cells of Luke(-) individuals which nevertheless express the P antigen (globoside) and SSEA-3. The name LKE is proposed for the red cell antigen detected by the Luke serum and by MC813-70, the monoclonal antibody defining SSEA-4. Among the LKE+ individuals, a few showed relatively weak expression of the antigen and were grouped separately as a LKE weak (LKEw) phenotype. Using MC813-70, the frequencies of the 3 phenotypes LKE+, LKEw and LKE- in an English donor population are 0.914, 0.072 and 0.014, respectively.