Evidence that blood group A antigen on lymphocytes is derived from the plasma

Serum from group O volunteers, who had been injected with porcine A blood group substance, was used in lymphocytotoxicity tests. Positive reactions were obtained only with lymphocytes of group A secretors; the strongest reactors were Le(a--b--). The same group O sera reacted with group O lymphocytes which had been exposed to a glycosphingolipid fraction prepared from the plasma of A,Le(a--b--) secretors. These reactions were specifically inhibited by A substance. It is suggested that, unlike the A antigen on red cells, the A antigen detected in lymphocytotoxicity tests is entirely derived from the plasma.