Absence of the Complete Platelet-Specific Alloantigens Zw (PlA) On Platelets in Glanzmann’S Thrombasthenia and the Effect of Anti-Zwa Antibody on Platelet-Function

The expression of the platelet-speciftc alloantigens on the platelets from 6 patients with Glanzmann’s Thrombasthenia (G.T.) and their nearest relatives was studied. The alloantigens Zwa (PIAl) and Zwb(PIA2) were found to be completely absent from thrombasthenic platelets while the alloantigens of the Ko-system were found to be normally expressed. The alloantigen Baka(phenotypefrequency 90.2%) was absent on the platelets from 4 studied G.T. patients. The platelets of all the family members reacted positively with anti-Zwa, negatively with antt-Zwb serum. SDS-PA gel electrophoresis of G.T. platelet membranes demonstrated a marked deficiency of the glycoproteins IIb and IIIa. Glycoprotein analysis of the platelet membranes from the family members of 3 of the 6 patients reveoled no apparent abnormalities. Pre-incubation with anti-Zwa containing plasma strongly inhibits ADP-and collagen induced aggregation of platelets from normal Zwa homozygous individuols with a slight inhibition of the aggregation induced by ristocetin. Zwa antibodies did not affect the functions of platelets from ZWb homozygous individuals. Thus binding of Zwa antibodies induces a thrombosthenis-like state.