Localization of human A, B and H isoantigens in Cynomolgus monkey tissues.

The presence and distribution of human A, B and H isoantigens were demonstrated in Cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) by means of red cell adherence test. Although no human antigens were found on primate erythrocytes, various epithelial tissues revealed the presence of A, B or H antigenic substance. The distribution and localization was similar to that found in human tissues. Majority of specimens from each individual animal possessed only 1 human type isoantigen with the exception of the salivary and sweat glands, where all animals showed the presence of H antigen in addition to other specificity, and of Brunner's gland, where all sections reacted positively also for A antigen.

The cell surface antigens of bladder washing specimens in patients with bladder tumors, a new approach.

The blood group antigens A, B and O(H) are present on the cell surface of many tissues, including the urothelium. It has been shown that loss of these antigens from the surface of tumor cells correlated with subsequent development of invasion. Since the specific red cell adherence test demonstrates the presence or absence of these antigens the test may have an important prognostic and screening value. We have examined bladder washing specimens from patients with bladder tumors and normal controls for this phenomenon. The results in patients with bladder tumors were then compared to original biopsy specimens for the presence or absence of cell surface antigens. The study indicates that our technique presents a simple, reliable test that may be significant in screening as well as followup of patients with bladder cancer.

Blood group isoantigen deletion in carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder.

Blood group isoantigens A and H (O) were measured by the Secific Red Cell Adherence (SRCA) Test in nine radical cystectomy specimens removed from patients with extensive carcinoma in situ of the urinary bladder. All bladders had areas of histologically normal epithelium and areas of epithelial atypia in addition to the carcinoma in situ. In eight cases, tissue-associated blood group isoantigens were deleted in areas showing either atypia or carcinoma in situ. Isoantigens were present in these areas in the ninth case. Blood group isoantigens were absent in approximately half of the sections of histologically normal epithelium. We propose that areas of epithelium which appear benign according to conventional histological criteria but in which the blood group isoantigens are absent may represent areas of low grade carcinoma in situ.

Isoantigen ABH in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between the histologic findings and the presence or absence of ABH isoantigens in intraepithelial neoplasia of the cervix. After the lesions were graded by four pathologists, the Red Cell Adherence (RCA) test was done to demonstrate the ABH antigens, and the results of the two were compared. The correlation between the morphologic diagnosis and the results of the RCA test was limited. The percentages of tissues giving positive (+) or positive-negative (+/-) reactions were very similar in intraepithelial neoplsia (59.2%) and normal squamous epithelium (58.4%). The relationship of the RCA test results and behavior of the lesion was not studied.

Horse agglutinins in infectious mononueleosis. 3. riterion for differential diagnosis.

One hundred infectious mononucleosis and the same number of non-infectious mononucleosis sera were studied to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of horse erythrocytes in the diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis. Titres of horse agglutinins in infectious mononucleosis sera ranged from 28 to 7,168 with a geometric mean of 550, whereas the corresponding sheep agglutinin titres ranged from less than 7 to 3,584, with a geometric mean of 126. Horse agglutinin titres of non-infectious mononucleosis sera ranged from less than 7 to 896, with a geometric mean of 59. Infectious mononucleosis sera tested with horse erythrocytes before and after absorption with guinea pig kidney and beef erythrocytes showed patterns different from those of non-infectious mononucleosis sera, even when sheep agglutinin titres were too low for satisfactory evaluation. After absorption with guinea pig kidney, horse agglutinin titres of infectious mononucleosis sera were uniformly higher than in the corresponding serum absorbed with beef erythrocytes. This was not the case for non-infectious mononucleosis sera. Results confirm our previously expressed view that horse erythrocytes are preferable to sheep erythrocytes in the serological diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis.