Highly individual- and tissue-specific expression of glycoprotein group A and B blood antigens in the human kidney and liver

Xianding Wang,Xiaobing Feng,Tao Lin,Zilin Xu,Fan Zhang,Zhongli Huang,Turun Song,Yunying Shi,Linde Li,Yu Fan,Yamei Jiang

doi:10.1186/s12865-021-00456-2

Abstract

BackgroundCurrently, research on the quantitative distribution of ABO antigens in different organs and tissues remains limited. We aimed to examine the individual characteristics of blood group glycoprotein A and B antigen expression in human kidneys and livers.MethodsWe obtained human samples, including the renal artery, renal vein, renal tissue, hepatic artery, hepatic vein, portal vein, and hepatic tissue, from 24 deceased organ transplant donors. The expression of the blood group antigens glycoprotein A and B was analysed and compared by Western blotting.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the expression between blood group glycoprotein A and B antigens at any of the seven sites (p > 0.05). The expression of both A and B antigens was highest in renal tissue and the portal vein and was lowest in the renal artery. A large difference in glycoprotein antigen expression was observed among various donors or different regions of the same individual. Univariate analysis revealed that glycoprotein A/B antigens were affected by the age and sex of donors and were significantly higher in males and in young people.ConclusionsOur study found that blood group glycoprotein antigen expression showed certain trends and distinct distribution in the kidney, liver, and vessels among individuals and in different regions of the same individual, which may explain the different clinical outcomes of patients who received ABO-incompatible transplantation.

Highlights

The transplantation of ABO-incompatible (ABOi) donor allografts into recipients with naturally occurring antiA or B antibodies may sometimes result in antibodymediated rejection (AMR); this process is initiated by antibodies binding to A or B antigens present on the vascular endothelium within the graft and subsequent
Most studies have focused on the anti-donor ABO antibody titre of recipients, and very little is known about the influence of the donor expression pattern of A/B antigens on posttransplant AMR incidence
In children who received ABOi heart transplants, ABO antibodies specific for type II antigens—the only A/B antigen subtypes expressed in heart tissue—were absent, demonstrating the high specificity of B cell tolerance to donor blood group antigens [12,13,14]

Summary

Introduction

The transplantation of ABO-incompatible (ABOi) donor allografts into recipients with naturally occurring antiA or B antibodies may sometimes result in antibodymediated rejection (AMR); this process is initiated by antibodies binding to A or B antigens present on the vascular endothelium within the graft and subsequentWang et al BMC Immunol (2021) 22:66 survived without AMR when the posttransplant ABO antibody titre gradually increased to the preoperative level [10, 11]. In the human renal vascular bed, a previous study reported that there were three different A antigen expression patterns (major, minor, and minimal staining distribution), while all kidneys showed a B antigen pattern that was similar to the major pattern of A antigen but was slightly weaker [15]. These expression profiles have important implications that should be considered in clinical settings of ABOi transplantation. We aimed to examine the individual characteristics of blood group glycoprotein A and B antigen expression in human kidneys and livers

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