Carbohydrate Inhibition Studies of the Naturally Occurring Human Antibody to Neuraminidase-Treated Human Lymphocytes

Normal human sera, including autologous sera, contain complement-dependent lymphocytotoxic antibodies to Vibrio cholera neuraminidase-treated human peripheral blood lymphocytes and human lymphoid cells maintained in long-term tissue culture, but not to untreated cells. Carbohydrate hapten inhibition studies showed that these antibodies were inhibited by oligosaccharides containing β-d-galactosyl nonreducing end residues, indicating that the antigenic determinant is at least in part carbohydrate. There is evidence for both antigen and antibody heterogeneity.