Coagulation versus agglutination
From WikiLectures
Coagulation and agglutination have very little in common...
However, we often hear that when blood is typed, the sample "coagulates". However, this is a false statement. Thus:
- Coagulation = "clotting" of blood
- is a chain of proteolytic reactions of plasma coagulation factors. The result is the polymerization of fibrin and the formation of a clot.
- Agglutination = clumping of blood cells
- is an antigen-antibody reaction. Non-covalent reaction between plasma proteins and erythrocytes.
| parameter | coagulation | agglutination |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Stop bleeding | Removal of non-self antigen |
| Reaction | Enzymatic proteolysis | Immune reactions (weak interactions) |
| Reactants | Plasma proteins | Erythrocyte antigens+antibodies in plasma |
| Enzymatic reaction | yeas | no |
| Where the reaction takes place | In plasma, blood cells are not needed | Plasma and erythrocytes |
| Result | Polymerized fibrin | Immunocomplexes |
