Status of major red cell blood group antigens on neutrophils, lymphocytes and monocytes

Previous investigators have reported that a number of red cell (RBC) antigens are found on neutrophils (PMN) and lymphocytes. However, there is a lack of consensus in the literature. Furthermore, few data are available concerning the occurrence of RBC antigens on monocytes. To address this problem, leucocyte fractions prepared from donors of known RBC antigen phenotype were analysed by fluorescence flow cytometry. Based on recent reports that PMN do not express ABH antigens and on the data presented here, the occurrence of major RBC antigens on leucocytes may be defined as follows: (1) lymphocytes express A, B. Lea and Leb antigens, depending on the ABH secretor (Se) status of the donor; (2) ABH and Lewis antigens cannot be detected on monocytes and PMN regardless of Se status; (3) D, E, e, C, c, Fya, Fyb, Fy5, Jka, Jkb, Jk, K, k, M, N, S, s, U, Vel, Coa, Lan, Jk3Yta, Dib, Ge, Sc:1 or Lub antigens were not detected on lymphocytes, monocytes and PMN; (4) lymphocytes, monocytes and PMN all express I, i, P and P1 antigens. The absence of selected Rhesus, Duffy, Kell, Kidd and other antigens on PMN is at variance with some previous reports. Furthermore, the distribution of RBC antigens on lymphocytes and monocytes has not been previously characterized using immunofluorescence flow cytometry.