CHANGES IN CELL SURFACE GLYCOSYLATION IN ??1,3-GALACTOSYLTRANSFERASE KNOCKOUT AND ??1,2-FUCOSYLTRANSFERASE TRANSGENIC MICE

Abstract

Lectins were able to bind underlying carbohydrate structures (sialylated Tn and Forssman antigens) that are normally cryptic antigens on H-transferase transgenic mouse spleen and cardiac endothelial cells, probably as a consequence of the reduction in the electronegativity of the cell surface due to reduced sialylation. As humans have preformed anti-Tn and anti-Forssman antibodies, it is possible that these structures may become targets of the xenograft rejection process, including hyperacute rejection.