Relationship between the secretor status and the expression of ABH blood group antigenic determinants in human intestinal brush-border membrane hydrolases

At least six hydrolases of the human intestinal brush-border membrane bear ABH blood group antigenic determinants related to the erythrocyte phenotype: the intestinal glycoproteins of blood group A and B subjects express A or B determinants, respectively, while blood group O subjects express the H determinant identified with Ulex europaeus lectin I. These expressions are under the control of the secretor gene: ABH antigens were not detected in the hydrolases of non-secretor subjects.