Blood group related antigens in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid
Aim: To study the MUC5AC and the blood group related antigen expression in ocular cicatricial pemphigoid (OCP) according to the distribution of Lewis and secretor phenotypes in OCP patients compared to normal subjects. Methods: Immunostaining was performed on conjunctival biopsy specimens from 22 consecutive patients suffering from OCP, using monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) directed against the peptidic core MUC5AC mucin (anti-M1/MUC5AC Mabs) and against the saccharide moieties (anti-blood group related antigens). These latter included anti-Lea, anti-Leb, anti-sialyl Lea, and H type 2 Mabs, which immunoreact with Lewis positive and non-secretor (Lea), Lewis positive and secretor (Leb), Lewis p…