Distribution of blood group antigens A, B and H in ameloblastomas

The histologic distribution of blood group antigens, A, B and H was examined in ameloblastomas and normal mucosa from 15 patients. The blood group antigens were demonstrated with a semiquantitative immunofluorescence staining method. Blood group antigens A and B were absent in the ameloblastomas, whereas the spinous cells of the oral mucosal epithelium showed a positive reaction in correspondence with the patient's blood group. Blood group antigen H was demonstrated in 14 of 15 ameloblastomas from patients belonging to blood group A, B, AB or O. In the oral mucosal epithelium from these patients blood group antigen H in all cases was located to the cell membranes of the spinous cells. The present findings suggest that a difference in ability to synthesize blood groups antigen H and the blood group antigens A and B exists in the ameloblastoma.