Red Cell Iso-Antigens of Rhesus Monkeys

An attempt was made to identify a number of red cell specificities of Rhesus monkeys. Nearly all iso-antisera used for this study were multi-specific, i.e., contained more than one antibody even after a single absorption with Rhesus erythrocytes. Nevertheless, by using van Rood’s computer program to select sera of similar reactivity pattern, it seemed possible to define, provisionally, a number of red cell specificities. The existence of those specificities as serologically distinguishable units, was made plausible also by a transmissional analysis in Rhesus families.

One of the reagents showed a similar reactivity pattern against erythrocytes (Dextran/BSA agglutination) and leukocytes (lymphocyte-cytotoxicity); absorption of this reagent with pure red cells and white cells suggested that at least some of the antigens recognized by this serum are carried by erythrocytes as well as leukocytes.

Finally, it seemed unlikely that allograft sensitivity can be induced by immunization with pure red cell suspensions: skin grafts obtained from donors positive or negative for the erythrocyte specificities against which recipients were preimmunized, did (with one exception) not show significantly different survival times. These results confirm previous suggestive evidence from this laboratory that red cell iso-antigens of Rhesus monkeys are not likely to be important transplantation antigens.