Bacterial enzymes can add galactose alpha 1,3 to human erythrocytes and creates a senescence-associated epitope.

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Humans have abundant circulating anti-alpha (1,3-di)-galactosyl (alpha Gal) antibodies (anti-Gal). Anti-Gal has been implicated in the clearance of senescent human erythrocytes (RBCs). The nature of the anti-Gal-binding RBC epitope has defied explanation, given that humans repress expression of the alpha 1,3 galactosyltransferase (alpha 1,3 GT) enzyme. This study explored whether alpha Gal epitopes on human RBCs might be synthesized by alpha 1,3 GTs of bacterial origin that are translocated into the circulation during commensal colonization of the gut by gram-negative bacteria. We found that an acellular Klebsiella pneumoniae sonicate could add 3H-UDP-Gal to human RBCs in the alpha configuration at 37 degrees C in the presence of 6 mM MnCl2 (pH 7.6). Gradient anion-exchange chromatography of the Klebsiella sonicate yielded four fractions that could catalyze the addition of 3H-Gal to human RBCs. Size-exclusion chromatography of these anion-exchange fractions yielded peaks of high GT activity for each, but only those derived from the first, third, and last anion-exchange fractions incorporated Gal such that the RBCs bound anti-Gal by fluorescence-activated cell sorter, suggesting that these three GTs are alpha 1,3 GTs. Thus, Klebsiella spp. make at least four GTs that can add an alpha Gal to human cell surface acceptor structures. Three of these GTs can form alpha 1,3 Gal structures on human RBCs that bind anti-Gal, thereby creating "autoimmune" senescence-associated RBC epitopes.

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