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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
Printed Glycan Array: A Sensitive Technique for the Analysis of the Repertoire of Circulating Anti-carbohydrate Antibodies in Small Animals
Published on: February 14, 2019
Carbohydrate array analysis of anti-Tn antibodies and lectins reveals unexpected specificities: implications for
Joseph C Manimala1, Zhitao Li, Amit Jain
1Laboratory of Medicinal Chemistry, Center for Cancer Research, NCI-Frederick, 376 Boyles Street, Building 376, Room109, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
Abstract:
The Tn antigen is a carbohydrate antigen expressed in most carcinomas, during embryogenesis, on pathogenic parasites, and on HIV. It has been evaluated extensively as a potential diagnostic marker and several Tn-based vaccines are in clinical trials. Based on discrepancies in the literature regarding Tn expression, we began to question whether antibodies and lectins used routinely to detect the Tn antigen were providing accurate information. To investigate this possibility, a carbohydrate microarray and a highly sensitive assay were developed and three frequently used Tn receptors (HBTn1, Bric111, and VVL-B4) were evaluated. Carbohydrate-array analysis revealed unexpected cross-reactivity with other human carbohydrate epitopes. VVL-B4 bound the Tn antigen, GalNAcalpha1-6Gal, and GalNAcalpha1-3Gal. Bric111 bound the Tn antigen, blood group A, GalNAcalpha1-6Gal, and GalNAcalpha1-3Gal. HBTn1 showed the best selectivity, but still displayed moderate binding to blood group A. Implications for the development of Tn-based diagnostics and vaccines are discussed.
