Identification of an anti-A and anti-B blood group glycosyltransferase antibody after incompatible bone marrow transplant.

The occurrence of a potent antibody against plasmatic A and B glycosyltransferase activities has been characterized in a patient (blood group A1) transplanted with a bone marrow from a blood group O donor. A and B glycosyltransferases were purified to near homogeneity from plasma of A1 and B blood-group individuals. The half-maximal inhibition of both enzymes was obtained at 1 to 2 micrograms/mL of the post-transplant IgG fraction, prepared by protein A-sepharose chromatography. A and B glycosyltransferases were also recognized by the post-transplant IgG fraction after sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) followed by electrophoretic transfer to nitrocellulose membranes.