Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Antigens Protected Functional Red Blood Cells By The Membrane Grafting Of Compact Hyperbranched Polyglycerols
Published on: January 2, 2013
Cold-induced augmentation of I blood group antigen interactions with galactophilic lectins
D Sudakevitz1, N Gilboa-Garber
1Department of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
The I antigen appears on human cells in the postnatal period, by addition of N-acetyllactosamine (beta 1-6) branching to the fetal i antigen structure, which is specified by linear oligo N-acetyllactosamine (beta 1-3) chain. Concurrently with the I antigen appearance on adult human erythrocytes most human sera exhibit low levels of anti-I agglutinins. These antibodies induce hemagglutination mainly at low temperatures (4 degrees C) and scantly at body temperature. Therefore they were named "cold agglutinins". We have used these antibodies and several hemagglutinating galactophilic animal, plant, and microbial lectins that also react with the I antigen, to study whether the cold-favored agglutination of the I antigen-bearing cells is a peculiar property of the anti-I antibodies or a special trait of that antigen. It has been found that the interactions of all of the examined lectins, irrespective of their source, with the adult human erythrocytes significantly increased at 4 degrees C, in contrast to those of the same cells with diverse I-insensitive antibodies and lectins, which were significantly higher at room temperature.
The I antigen appears on human cells in the postnatal period, by addition of N-acetyllactosamine (beta 1-6) branching to the fetal i antigen structure, which is specified by linear oligo N-acetyllactosamine (beta 1-3) chain. Concurrently with the I antigen appearance on adult human erythrocytes most human sera exhibit low levels of anti-I agglutinins. These antibodies induce hemagglutination mainly at low temperatures (4 degrees C) and scantly at body temperature. Therefore they were named "cold agglutinins". We have used these antibodies and several hemagglutinating galactophilic animal, plant, and microbial lectins that also react with the I antigen, to study whether the cold-favored agglutination of the I antigen-bearing cells is a peculiar property of the anti-I antibodies or a special trait of that antigen. It has been found that the interactions of all of the examined lectins, irrespective of their source, with the adult human erythrocytes significantly increased at 4 degrees C, in contrast to those of the same cells with diverse I-insensitive antibodies and lectins, which were significantly higher at room temperature.
Related Concept Videos
Transcytosis of IgG
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity
Complete Antigens
Complete antigens possess both immunogenicity and reactivity.
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Development of Immunocompetence
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
Hypersensitivity Reactions: Cytolytic Reactions

