High-Levels of ‘Natural’ ABO Antibodies are Produced in Female vs. Male Mice

Abstract

ABO histo-blood group incompatibility is a barrier in solid organ transplant due to the presence of 'natural' preformed ABO antibodies. However, ABO-incompatible (ABOi) heart transplantation is successful in infants as ABO antibodies are low/absent. A better understanding of the specificity and the production of ABO antibodies may allow for successful ABOi transplantation at older ages. Here, we sought to determine the isotype (IgM/IgG) and subtype (I-VI) specificity of ABO antibodies produced naturally or induced by sensitization in mice as a function of age and sex. BALB/c mice were assessed for natural ABO antibody production over time (n=32/39, female/male; age 1-18 months), or challenged with human A erythrocytes (5 weekly intraperitoneal injection) beginning at 5 weeks of age to measure induced ABO antibody production (n=13/8, female/male; age 1-3 months). Plasma ABO antibody titre was determined by hemagglutination assay; ABO antibody isotype and subtype specificity were assessed by a novel ABH-glycan microarray created in our lab. Female mice produced markedly higher natural anti-A antibodies compared with male mice. With age, natural anti-A antibodies shifted from an IgM to IgG isotype in females but remained predominantly IgM in males (Figure 1). Most natural ABO antibodies were specific to antigen subtypes III/IV; specificity to subtypes I and II was absent or very low. In contrast, following A-antigen sensitization, both female and male mice produced comparable quantities of IgM and IgG anti-A antibodies with specificities for all subtypes (I-VI). Male and female mice show previously undescribed differences in natural ABO antibody production. Markedly higher antibody production together with a distinct propensity to class switching suggest a more complex immune pathway in females than traditionally described for natural antibody to 'T-independent' carbohydrate antigens. Future studies will explore mechanisms for these sex differences and relevance to humans.