Abnormal expression of alpha-galactosyl epitopes in man. A trigger for autoimmune processes?

1% of circulating IgG in man is anti-Gal antibody, which interacts specifically with the carbohydrate structure Gal alpha 1----3Gal beta 1----4GlcNAc-R on mammalian glycoconjugates (described throughout as the alpha-galactosyl epitope). This epitope is abundant on cell surface glycoconjugates of non-primate mammals, prosimians, and New World monkeys. It is not found on cells of Old World monkeys, apes, and man because of diminished alpha 1----3 galactosyltransferase enzyme activity. However, the alpha 1----3 galactosyltransferase gene seems to be present within the human genome. A mechanism that increases alpha 1----3 galactosyltransferase activity in human cells could trigger an autoimmune process mediated by anti-Gal binding to the newly synthesised alpha-galactosyl epitopes.