M and N Blood Group

M AND N BLOOD GROUP

Anti-M and Anti-N Abs are recovered

from rabbit sera
M and N are antithetical Antigens
S,s,M,N Both well developed at birth
46 Antigens in the MNS most are low of
prevalence ; discovered in cases of HDFN
or incompatible crossmatch
Chromosome 4 genes encoding the MNS
antigens

M AND N ANTIGENS
Glycophorin A(GPA) glycoprotein where M
and N Antigens are found;
MN antigens differ in their amino acid
residue at positions 1 and 5.
M has a serine and glycine at these
positions
N has leucine and glutamic acid
Easily destroyed or removed by :
Routine BB enzymes (ficin, papain, and
bromelin)
Less common enzymes (trypsin and pronase)

ANTI-M

Naturally occuring saline agglutinins

that react below 37C
50-80% are IgG or have IgG component; do not
bind complement; do not react with enzyme tx
(treated ) RBCs
More common in children; common in px
w/bact.Infxns

ANTIBODY REACTIVITY ENHANCED

BY:

Increase serum:cell ratio

Increase incubation time

Both
Decrease Incubation temperature
Adding a potential Medium(albumin, LISS,PEG)
pH-dependent reacting best at pH 6.5; detected
in plasma but not in unadicified serum
Reacts only w/RBCs exposed to glucose solutions
Rarely causes HTRs(Hemolitic transfusion
Reaction) decreased red cell survival,
HDFN(Hemolytic Disease of the Fetus and
Newborn)

ANTI-N

Cold reactive IgM(Immunoglobulin M)

or IgG(Immunoglobulin G) saline
agglutinine that does not bind
complement or react with enzyme
treated RBCs
Does not bind complement
Implicated only with rare cases of
HDFN
Seen in renal patients, who are
dialyzed on equipment sterilized with