Serological relationships among antigens of the BoLA and the bovine M blood group systems.

Alloimmunizations with either lymphocytes or red cells from donor cows positive for BoLA w16 and blood group M' antigens into recipients negative for these antigens produced antisera reactive in the cytotoxic test with w16-positive lymphocytes and in the haemolytic test with M'-positive erythrocytes. Similarly, alloimmunizations of blood group M1-negative recipients with either lymphocytes or red cells from donor cows possessing the M1 blood group factor produced antisera specifically reactive with lymphocytes and erythrocytes from M1-positive cattle. Absorptions with either lymphocytes or erythrocytes from individual animals of the same M antigenic type as the donor removed all haemolytic and cytotoxic reactivity. The results indicate that blood group M' and BoLA w16 share a similar antigenic structure. Likewise, blood group M1 has an antigenically similar counterpart which is also part of the BoLA system.