Forssman Antigen Activators

Forssman antigen is a glycolipid antigen, rather than a protein, that is expressed on the cell surface of some species, including sheep, horses, dogs, and rodents, but not typically on human cells. The Forssman antigen is named after a Swedish physician, John Forssman, who first described its existence in 1911.The Forssman antigen is synthesized by the enzyme Forssman glycolipid synthetase, which transfers an N-acetylgalactosamine moiety from UDP-N-acetylgalactosamine to a glycolipid acceptor. The resulting Forssman glycolipid is then transported to the cell surface.

Interestingly, the expression of the Forssman antigen in humans is not entirely absent. There are rare individuals who are "Forssman-positive," expressing this antigen on their red blood cells. This antigenic variation can be significant in the context of blood transfusions and organ transplants.In terms of disease association, the Forssman antigen has been linked to certain infectious diseases. Some pathogens, like the bacteria Campylobacter jejuni, can mimic the Forssman antigen structure, possibly aiding in immune evasion.