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Changes in the Human A Antigen of Erythrocytes with the Individual's Age

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Abstract

THE human A and B antigens on fœtal red cells are weaker than those on erythrocytes of adults and undergo marked quantitative changes during life. Reports describing these changes appeared in the literature as early as 1929. Morville1 stated that in most instances the A and B antigens seemed to have reached maximal strength by the time the child was four months of age. However, according to Thomsen and Kettel2, the strength of the antigens increased more slowly, and maximal values were not reached until 15–20 years of age, afterwards remaining constant. This view was challenged by Lodenkämper and Stienen3, who provided data indicating that the A and B antigens reach maximal strength at one or two years of age and remain at this level to 30–40 years of age; thereafter the strength of the antigens decreases and approaches zero. Obviously, these reports disagree with respect to the age at which the A and B antigens reach adult strength, and they also disagree as to the strength of these antigens in old age.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan

    FRED J. GRUNDBACHER

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  1. FRED J. GRUNDBACHER
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GRUNDBACHER, F. Changes in the Human A Antigen of Erythrocytes with the Individual's Age. Nature 204, 192–194 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1038/204192a0

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