Chemicals and Drugs

Lewis Blood Group Antigens

Carbohydrate antigens structurally related to the ABH BLOOD-GROUP SYSTEM. They may occur as a modification of saccharide chains on glycolipids or glycoproteins on cell surfaces or in plasma, or as free oligosaccharides in secretions. Lewis antigens are not synthesized in blood cells. Instead Lewis glycolipids present in plasma are absorbed onto the surface of ERYTHROCYTES; LYMPHOCYTES; and PLATELETS. The phenotypes Le(a) and Le(b) are the result of the actions of two genes the Le gene (fucosyltransferase FUT3) and the Se gene (fucosyltransferase FUT2) on the precursor carbohydrate, glycolipid or glycoprotein. Other FUCOSYLTRANSFERASES can also synthesize the Lewis antigens.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

Carbohydrate antigens structurally related to the ABH BLOOD-GROUP SYSTEM. They may occur as a modification of saccharide chains on glycolipids or glycoproteins on cell surfaces or in plasma, or as free oligosaccharides in secretions. Lewis antigens are not synthesized in blood cells. Instead Lewis glycolipids present in plasma are absorbed onto the surface of ERYTHROCYTES; LYMPHOCYTES; and PLATELETS. The phenotypes Le(a) and Le(b) are the result of the actions of two genes the Le gene (fucosyltransferase FUT3) and the Se gene (fucosyltransferase FUT2) on the precursor carbohydrate, glycolipid or glycoprotein. Other FUCOSYLTRANSFERASES can also synthesize the Lewis antigens.

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Classification

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MeSH Record

Synonyms

18 entry terms
  • Le(a) Blood Group System
  • Lewis Blood-Group System
  • Lewis System
  • Blood-Group System, Lewis
  • Lewis Blood Group System
  • Blood Group Lewis Related Antigens
  • Le Antigens
  • Lewis Antigen Related Tumor-Associated Antigens
  • Lewis Antigens
  • Lewis Blood Group Related Antigens
  • Lewis Blood Group Related Tumor-Associated Antigens
  • Lewis Related Antigens
  • Sialyl Lewis Antigens
  • Antigens, Lewis
  • Antigens, Lewis Related
  • Antigens, Sialyl Lewis
  • Lewis Antigen Related Tumor Associated Antigens
  • Lewis Blood Group Related Tumor Associated Antigens

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

21 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, analysis, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemistry, classification, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, therapeutic use, toxicity, ultrastructure, urine.

MeSH Record

Indexing Annotation

coordinate with disease /blood, not /immunol nor /genet

MeSH Record

History Note

2020 (1963)

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D23.050w.301.290.544w
  2. D23.050w.705.230.544w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Lewis Blood Group Antigens. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D007983. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D007983
  2. Lewis Blood Group Antigens. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_antigen_system
  3. Lewis Blood Group Antigens. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3509142