The mixed antiglobulin reaction in the detection of human isoantibodies against leucocytes, platelets and HeLa cells

Robin Coombs: his life and contribution to haematology and transfusion medicine

Robin Coombs was the last survivor of the distinguished group of immunologists that included Philip Gell, John Humphrey, John Marrack, Peter Medawar and Robert White and who were responsible for the renaissance of British Immunology after the Second World War. He is best remembered for describing the antiglobulin test that bears his name. The antiglobulin test revolutionised the diagnosis of haemolytic diseases and the compatibility testing of blood for transfusion. In all, Coombs authored over 200 scientific papers. Haemagglutination reactions became widely used in the diagnosis of a range of infectious agents. Together with Philip Gell, he devised the classification of allergic reactions; these were published in the textbook "Clinical Aspects of Immunology", which he and Gell first edited in 1963 and which became the leading textbook on medical immunology. Robin Coombs was also one of the founders of the British Society for Immunology.

B cell-restricted human mb-1 gene: expression, function, and lineage infidelity

The antigen receptor on B cells (B cell receptor [BCR]) consists of two noncovalently associated modules. Immunoglobulin genes created somatically during B cell development encode the antigen-specific component of the receptor. The Igalpha/beta heterodimer, encoded by the mb-1 and B29 genes, is necessary to escort the receptor complex to the plasma membrane. Following antigen engagement of the BCR, Igalpha/beta nucleates signal transduction and promotes endocytosis of bound antigen for intracellular degradation and presentation to helper T-cells. In this review, we outline the discovery of the mb-1 gene; summarize results from other laboratories on the function of Igalpha/beta in B cells; and conclude with our recent studies, which indicate that mb-1 is not a B-lineage-restricted gene as originally proposed.

In vitro studies of mammalian somatic cell variation. I. Detection of H-2 phenotype in cultured mouse cell lines

The isoantigenic phenotype of the H-2 locus has been detected by isohemagglutinin absorption in a line of mouse lymphoma cells growing continuously in culture for 6 years and in two established lines of fibroblastic mouse cells growing continuously in culture for 1 year. Quantitative absorption studies suggest that the concentration of H-2 isoantigens is higher in the cultured lymphoma cells than in the other two fibroblastic cell lines.

The value of the mixed antiglobulin reaction (MAR test) as an addition to routine seminal analysis in the evaluation of the subfertile couple

A mixed erythrocyte-spermatozoa antiglobulin reaction (MAR test) for IgG antibodies has been done on semen specimens supplied by the male partners in 720 subfertile couples during a two-year period. The test was possible in all except 69 patients (9.5%). Antisperm antibodies were detected in 48 (10%) of 484 men with normal sperm counts, 18 (23%) of 78 with low sperm motility, and 19 (15%) of 128 with low counts. In 204 patients, antisperm antibodies were also measured by serum sperm-agglutination tests: The results showed a highly significant correlation with the results of MAR testing. It is concluded that the MAR test should be a routine part of seminal analysis, since the presence of IgG antisperm antibodies can be established in about 10% of men who might otherwise be passed as normal, and such antibodies can be positively excluded in a further 78% of the male partners of infertile marriages.

Platelet indirect radioactive Coombs test. Its utilization for PLA1 grouping

A platelet indirect radioactive Coombs test (PIRC) has been described. The technique for purification and labelling the antiglobulin has been precised. This test allowed the typing of platelets in the PLA system by using an absorbed serum from a mother of a thrombocytopenic child. Six other families of neonatal thrombocytopenias were tested. In three of them, the mothers were found PLA1 negative (PLA2, PLA2). Among a panel of 93 platelets, two (0.022) were found PLA1, negative. This PIRC test has many advantages compared to other tests such as platelet complement fixation, assay for blocking antibodies or antiglobulin consumption: it gives objective and quantitative results and is highly reproducible; anticomplementary serum may be tested.