Tk: A New Form of Red Cell Polyagglutination

Abstract

Summary. A hitherto undescribed from of transient red cell polyagglutinability is described. It was shown to be different from T‐, Tn‐ and Cad‐polyagglutinability. The value of reagents obtained from plant seeds in the elucidation of polyagglutinability is again demonstrated.

An Inherited RBC Characteristic, NOR, Resulting in Erythrocyte Polyagglutination

“…Several other types of polyagglutination have since been described including: T, Tn, Tk, Th, VA and acquired B [1,2,4,6,[9][10][11][12][13][14]19]. At present, polyagglutination can be categorized according to: (1) specific reac tions noted with various seed and snail ex tracts, enzymes and Polybrene [3,4,[6][7][8]12, and demonstrates various degrees of expres sion.…”

Acquired B Antigen, Tk Activation and A(1) Destroying Enzyme Activity in a Patient with Septicaemia

“…T and Tk are frequently encountered to gether but they have been demonstrated to be different [4,5,10], The immunodomi nant sugars of these receptors may be con sidered to be, respectively, /5-galactose and N-acetylglucosamine, detected specifically by Arac his hypogaea and BS II. However, A. hypogaea lectin reacts with T and Tk transformed cells [5], It is not yet clear if this lectin recognizes two chemically differ ent sites or if Tk transformed cells also bear a small number of T sites.…”

“…A similar result was also obtained with Arac his hypogaea before and after ficin treatment. No agglutination [4] according to which Tk might be a manifesta tion of developing or disappearing T trans formation. However, Andreu [1] suggested that the decreases of ABH and I, i antigens frequently associated with Tk polyagglutina tion could be explain by the action of an endoglycosidase.…”

“…The so-called 'acquired-B' antigen is frequently associated with a typical polyagglutinability (type III) [2,7,9]. Judd et al [11] suggested that the Bandeiraea simplicifolia II lectin (BS II) was specific for Tk polyagglutination [4] and that these receptors could be identical to those of type III poly agglutination. T poly agglutination has also been observed asso ciated with acquired-B antigen [9].…”

Tk Polyagglutination Associated with Reduced A and H Activity

“…Tk polyagglutination was first described by Bird and Wingham [3] and subsequently shown by Inglis et al [8] to be associated with Bacteroides fragilis infection. Eryth rocytes carrying exposed Tk receptors have normal sialic acid levels [3] and are char acterised by their enhanced agglutination reactions, in the presence of papain, with lectins extracted from Arachis hypogaea [3] and Bandeiraea simplicifolia [11].…”