Cold hemagglutinin cross-reactivity with Mycoplasma pneumoniae

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Updated: Nov 7, 2026

Optimized PCR-based Detection of Mycoplasma
06:01

Optimized PCR-based Detection of Mycoplasma

Published on: June 20, 2011

F A Janney, L T Lee, C Howe

    Infection and Immunity
    |October 1, 1978
    PubMed

    Insights

    Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections can trigger cold agglutinins that react with human red blood cells. These findings suggest a cross-reaction between erythrocyte glycoproteins and the bacteria, explaining the immune response.

    Area of Science:

    • Immunology
    • Microbiology
    • Hematology

    Background:

    • Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of respiratory infections.
    • Cold agglutinins are antibodies that cause red blood cells to clump at cold temperatures.
    • The mechanism linking M. pneumoniae infection to cold agglutinin formation is not fully understood.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the immunological relationship between Mycoplasma pneumoniae and human erythrocyte glycoproteins.
    • To elucidate the nature of cold agglutinins produced during M. pneumoniae infections.

    Main Methods:

    • Analysis of convalescent sera from M. pneumoniae-infected patients and rabbit antisera.
    • Testing for cold hemagglutinin activity against human erythrocytes.
    • Inhibition assays using soluble erythrocyte glycoproteins.
    • Complement fixation tests with M. pneumoniae and glycoprotein antigens.

    Main Results:

    • Human serum cold agglutinins were inhibited by soluble erythrocyte glycoproteins.
    • Rabbit antisera to M. pneumoniae and erythrocyte glycoproteins showed cross-reactivity.
    • Both M. pneumoniae and erythrocyte glycoproteins fixed complement with relevant antisera.

    Conclusions:

    • Cold agglutinins induced by M. pneumoniae infection likely result from cross-reactivity.
    • Common antigenic determinants exist between erythrocyte glycoproteins (I antigen) and M. pneumoniae.
    • This cross-reaction explains the observed cold agglutinin response in M. pneumoniae infections.

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