Plasma glycosyltransferase activity after ABO-incompatible bone marrow transplantation and development of an inhibitor for glycosyltransferase activity.

Abstract

Plasma glycosyltransferase activities were studied in eight patients after ABO-incompatible bone marrow transplantation. The ABO red blood cell type completely changed from the recipient type to the donor type; however, preexistent plasma glycosyltransferase activities of the recipient type did not change in seven of eight patients after marrow transplantation. Weak transferase activities of the donor type were observed in all of the patients after marrow grafting. One patient with acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease produced a very potent inhibitor that was active on both A- and B-transferase activities. Because this inhibitory activity was absorbed by a protein A-coupled Sepharose column, it was strongly suggested that this inhibitory activity was mediated by an IgG antibody for a transferase.