Activity profile of the CA125 antigen towards human red blood cells

Abstract

Starting from the mucin nature of the CA125 antigen and conditions associated with high serum concentrations, this study is an attempt to gain insight into its activity profile towards human erythrocytes. Carcinomaassociated and pregnancy-associated CA125 antigens were tested in agglutination/aggregation, adhesion and hemolysis assays. The results obtained indicated that CA125 antigens increased agglutination/aggregation and inhibited erythrocyte adhesion, but differed in their effective concentrations. Galectin-1 slightly modulated the effects observed. CA125 antigens had no effect on hemolysis. The activity profile of the CA125 antigen towards erythrocytes may have biomedical consequences in different microenvironments in relevant physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Keywords

• CA125 antigen
• red blood cells
• agglutination
• aggregation
• adhesion
• cancer