What does Lewis substance neutralize?

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Multiple Choice

What does Lewis substance neutralize?

Neutralization by soluble antigens is the key idea here. Lewis substances are the free Lewis antigens found in body fluids like saliva and serum. They can bind and “soak up” anti-Lewis antibodies (such as anti-Le^a and anti-Le^b) in a sample. When the soluble Lewis antigen neutralizes these antibodies, the reactivity disappears in serologic tests, confirming that the antibody involved is anti-Lewis. This mechanism explains why Lewis substance specifically neutralizes anti-Lewis antibodies, and it wouldn’t apply to antibodies against other systems like I, Sda, or Chido/Rogers, whose reactivity isn’t neutralized by Lewis substances.

Neutralization by soluble antigens is the key idea here. Lewis substances are the free Lewis antigens found in body fluids like saliva and serum. They can bind and “soak up” anti-Lewis antibodies (such as anti-Le^a and anti-Le^b) in a sample. When the soluble Lewis antigen neutralizes these antibodies, the reactivity disappears in serologic tests, confirming that the antibody involved is anti-Lewis.

This mechanism explains why Lewis substance specifically neutralizes anti-Lewis antibodies, and it wouldn’t apply to antibodies against other systems like I, Sda, or Chido/Rogers, whose reactivity isn’t neutralized by Lewis substances.

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