Expression of H-related antigen on human megakaryocytes and megakaryocytic leukemia cells.

A mouse monoclonal antibody (MoAb), MG-2, was produced by immunizing a characterized human megakaryoblastic cell line, MEG-01. Since MG-2 reacted with erythrocytes of all ABH blood groups except Oh (O Bombay), and since anti-H MoAb inhibited MG-2 binding to MEG-01 cells, MG-2 is considered to recognize a molecule closely related to blood group antigen H. MG-2 reacted more strongly with normal smaller sized megakaryocytes than with larger sized ones, and not with platelets. The expression of the intrinsic H-related antigen on MEG-01 cells decreased concomitant to megakaryocytic differentiation induced by phorbol esters. This H-related antigen was expressed on leukemia cells with the megakaryocytic features from blast crisis of chronic myelogenous leukemia and acute megakaryoblastic leukemia.