Question

What can proteolytic enzymes do to red cells antigens?

1) Enhance their reactivity
2) Destroy their reactivity
3) Enhance or destroy their reactivity
4) Enhance, destroy or not affect their reactivity

Answer 1

Proteolytic enzymes can either enhance or destroy the reactivity of red cell antigens. Antibodies produced by plasma cells attach to the antigens on the plasma membranes of erythrocytes, causing them to adhere to each other. This can result in neutralization, agglutination, complement activation, opsonization, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

Step-by-step explanation:

Proteolytic enzymes can enhance, destroy, or not affect the reactivity of red cell antigens. When certain B lymphocytes called plasma cells produce antibodies (immunoglobulins) that attach to the antigens on the plasma membranes of the infused erythrocytes, it can cause them to adhere to one another. This can result in neutralization, agglutination, complement activation, opsonization, and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, which can either enhance or destroy the reactivity of the red cell antigens.