The in-house monoclonal antibody against γ-globin chain; Thal N/B, accurately measured F cells in SEA-α thalassemia 1 trait

ABSTRACT

The monoclonal antibody (mAb) against γ-globin chain clone Thal N/B was produced. It was aimed at measuring the quantity of HbF (α₂γ₂)-containing red blood cells or F cells by flow cytometry. However, it may cross-react with Hb Bart’s (γ4) which is present in the SEA-α thalassemia 1 trait. We measured FC levels by flow cytometry using this in-house mAb for 100 blood samples. Prevalence of high FC trait in this cohort was 51%. Ten of 12 SEA-α thalassemia 1 trait were included in the 51% high FC individuals. Comparing FC levels in the 51 high FC individuals having and not having the SEA-α thalassemia 1 trait showed no difference of FC levels. It was concluded that Hb Bart’s did not interfere with FC measurement by flow cytometry using the in-house Thal N/B mAb. Therefore, it can be used for measuring F cell levels in regions having a high prevalence of the SEA-α thalassemia 1 trait. The findings of this research should apply to other clones of anti-γ-globin chain mAb that are aimed for HbF/FC quantification.

KEYWORDS:

• Flow cytometry
• F cells
• hemoglobin F
• monoclonal antibody
• fluorescene isothiocyanate
• SEA-α thalassemia 1

Acknowledgments

We thanked Dr. Denis Sweatman of The Network of Excellence in Nanomaterials, Department of Physics and Material Sciences, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand, for proofreading this manuscript.

Declaration of interest statement

The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Sciences and Technology Development Agency (Thailand) [N/A].