An antibody to the lutheran glycoprotein (Lu) recognizing the LU4 blood type variant inhibits cell adhesion to laminin α5.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Lutheran blood group glycoprotein (Lu), an Ig superfamily (IgSF) transmembrane receptor, is also known as basal cell adhesion molecule (B-CAM). Lu/B-CAM is a specific receptor for laminin α5, a major component of basement membranes in various tissues. Previous reports have shown that Lu/B-CAM binding to laminin α5 contributes to sickle cell vaso-occlusion. However, as there are no useful tools such as function-blocking antibodies or drugs, it is unclear how epithelial and sickled red blood cells adhere to laminin α5 via Lu/B-CAM.

Methodology/principal findings

In this study, we discovered a function-blocking antibody that inhibits Lu binding to laminin α5 using a unique binding assay on tissue sections. To characterize the function-blocking antibody, we identi

SUBMITTER: Kikkawa Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3155534 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature