Hello -
"anti-Lewis B" refers to an antibody against the Lewis-B antigen.
An antibody is a protein produced by the immune system that binds to
other proteins - it is used by the body to recognize "foreign" or
"non-self" proteins, thereby allowing the immune system to detect
infecting organisms (as these organisms would be bound by antibodies
which determine that their proteins are "foreign). The immune system
will also detect other peoples blood and tissues as "foreign" by
detecting "non-self" proteins on the surface of those cells as well.
The immune system can go awry and make antibodies to the bodies own
proteins - this is called "auto-immunity".
Lewis B antigen is one of the many proteins expressed on the surface
of cells that can be recognized by antibodies of the immune system.
The most famous of these antigens are the "blood-type" antigens A and
B which lead to the ABO blood typing screen, as well the Rh factor
antigen, which leads to blood types (+) and (-). Lewis A, B, and
other antigens are also found on the surface of blood cells (as well
as other tissues).
Anti-Lewis B antibodies are not uncommonly found in pregnancy as the
mother's body can recognize fetal proteins that cross the placenta as
"foreign" - unlike other factors (such as Rh), anti-Lewis antibodies
in pregnancy are not thought to pose a risk to the fetus or mother.
Anti-Lewis antibodies can also be found in the saliva of individuals,
called "secretors", who secrete their antibodies into their saliva -
these antibodies can be detected in forensic specimens and have aided
in the identification of victims and criminals (particularly before
DNA techniques were as developed). Individuals with Anti-Lewis B
antibodies, however, are not "secretors" due to a link between what
makes one a secretor and what allows one to have anti-Lewis B
antibodies - therefore, Lewis typing is sometimes used as a proxy to
determine secretor status.
Other Lewis antigens (X and Y) have been linked to colon cancer,
obstetric cancer, and H. pylori infection.
Please feel free to ask for any further explanation/clarification.
synarchy
Anti-Lewis B antibodies
Blood types in short:
http://www.bloodbook.com/type-sys.html
A brief synopsis of the Lewis antigens:
http://www.glycoforum.gr.jp/science/word/glycoprotein/GPA04E.html
A brief mention of anti-Lewis antibodies in pregnancy:
http://216.239.41.104/search?q=cache:3SRpSWehMCcJ:www.abp.org/certinfo/subspec/hemo.pdf+anti-lewis+antibodies+pregnancy&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
Secretor status:
http://www.dadamo.com/subtype6.htm
search:
anti-Lewis B, lewis B antibodies |
