Immunoanatomic distribution of blood group antigens in the human urinary tract: Influence of secretor status Journal Article


Authors: Cordon-Cardo, C.; Lloyd, K. O.; Finstad, C. L.; McGroarty, M. E.; Reuter, V. E.; Bander, N. H.; Old, L. J.; Melamed, M. R.
Article Title: Immunoanatomic distribution of blood group antigens in the human urinary tract: Influence of secretor status
Abstract: Seven mouse monoclonal antibodies and the lectin from Ulex europaeus, detecting blood group specificities of the ABH and Lewis systems, have been used to define the immunoanatomic distribution of these antigenic structures within the human nephron and urothelium. The reagents employed recognize the following blood group related antigens: A (all variants), B, H, Lewis(a) (Le(a)), Lewis(b) (Le(b)), X (Lewis(x)), Y (Lewis(y)) and type 1 precursor chain. We have analyzed the presence of these antigens in histologically normal kidney and urothelium from 22 adults and 3 fetuses by the immunoperoxidase method. In addition, we simultaneously examined blood group and secretor status in 15 of the 22 adult individuals studied. Immunohistochemical analyses demonstrated that these antigenic systems are differentially expressed in cell types and domains of the human urinary tract. Major differences were observed in secretor as compared to nonsecretor individuals, mainly in the more pronounced expression of precursor, H, Le(b), and Y antigens in secretors. In the kidney, all antigens, except X, showed enhanced expression in secretor individuals on epithelial cells of the collecting ducts and urothelium; X antigen was mainly present in the proximal tubules and portions of Henle's loop. The urothelium was particularly rich in blood group antigens and in some cases showed differential expression of Le(a)/X and Le(b)/Y on the various cell layers. Secretors could be divided into two groups based on the intensity and pattern of staining; it is suggested that this may be determined by homo- or heterozygosity at the Se locus. Nonsecretor individuals lacked expression of Le(b) and Y determinants, as well as H antigen, in the urothelium (three of four cases). Comparison of normal fetal and adult tissues suggest that the expression of some of these antigens is related to maturation stages of the human nephron. These studies confirm the importance of blood group antigens as normal differentiation antigens. These reagents have a wide range of applications including typing of blood group and secretory status in body fluids and tissues, studies of histogenesis and organogenesis, and analyses of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases.
Keywords: immunohistochemistry; adult; human cell; cytology; abo blood-group system; heterozygote; monoclonal antibody; urothelium; antibodies, monoclonal; kidney; urinary bladder; homozygote; fetus; histocytochemistry; glycoproteins; urinary tract; bladder; lewis blood-group system; ulex europaeus; glycolipids; epitopes; etiology; lectin; humans; human; priority journal; blood group antigens; blood group antigen; secretor status; blood and hemopoietic system
Journal Title: Laboratory Investigation
Volume: 55
Issue: 4
ISSN: 0023-6837
Publisher: Nature Publishing Group  
Date Published: 1986-01-01
Start Page: 444
End Page: 454
Language: English
PUBMED: 2429066
PROVIDER: scopus
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 18 August 2021 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Neil Harrison Bander
    62 Bander
  2. Victor Reuter
    1229 Reuter
  3. Lloyd J Old
    593 Old
  4. Kenneth O Lloyd
    163 Lloyd
  5. Connie L. Finstad
    45 Finstad
  6. Myron Melamed
    148 Melamed