Cell surface antigens

A stable human-Chinese hamster ovary cell hybrid has been produced which, in addition to the complement of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) chromosomes, contains only one human chromosome, No. 11. The human cell-surface antigens whose expression is controlled by human chromosome 11, and are expressed by this hybrid, have been defined as the AL immunogenetic complex. Although one component of this immunogenetic complex (a1) is also expressed by human red blood cells, a second component (a2) is not. Killing of an a1+ hybrid by anti-a1 serum and complement can be completely inhibited by glycophorin, the major glycoprotein component of the human erythrocyte membrane. In the presence of complement, antiserum prepared against glycophorin will kill only those cells which express a1. The anti-a1 killing activity of the anti-glycophorin can be absorbed out only by those cells which express a1. Therefore, it is concluded that the a1 cell-surface antigen has at least one antigenic component in common with glycophorin.