Expression of blood group antigens by cultured human epidermal cells used as allografts.

The expression of blood-group antigens was studied on human epidermal cultures used as allografts in 13 non-immunosuppressed patients treated for leg ulcers. The study was carried out using monoclonal antibodies to A and B antigens by an indirect immunofluorescence technique. Blood-group antigens are weakly expressed on the suprabasal layers of the cultured epidermal sheets. After grafting, the donor's blood-group antigens were detected on a few cells of the suprabasal layers. Furthermore, scattered keratinocytes as well as acrosyringia were found to express the recipient's blood-group antigens.