Specificity of antibodies to the purified Con A acceptor glycoproteins of cultured tumour cells

Abstract

Summary Con A acceptor glycoproteins from the human Molt 4 (T cell leukaemia) and HeLa (endocervical adenocarcinoma) cell lines were purified by affinity chromatography and used for the preparation of rat antisera. Cross-absorption analysis showed that each antiserum contained antibodies which recognised cell surface antigens preferentially expressed by the donor cell line. Molt 4-associated antigens were fully expressed on T cell tumour lines and normal thymocytes, but not on non T cell tumour lines, peripheral blood lymphocytes or other blood cells. Immunofluorescence studies showed that the antigens were preferentially expressed on a sub-population of immature thymocytes. HeLa-associated antigens were only fully expressed on one other epithelial tumour cell in a panel of 17 cell lines. Immunofluorescence studies showed that the HeLa-associated antigens were expressed on normal endocervical adenoepithelium but not on ectocervical, endometrial or intestinal epithelia. Thus purified Con A acceptor glycoproteins of cultured tumour cell lines are potent immunogens for the generation of antibodies recognising lineage-associated differentiation antigens. These antigens should be useful in tumour classification and in the study of normal differentiation.

Antibodies specific for HeLa glycoprotein antigens are also specific for human endocervical epithelium

“…It was previously shown (Koch & Smith, 1986) that antibodies specific towards the HeLa cell line could be produced by immunising rats with a specific glycoprotein fraction derived from these cells. Preliminary studies indicated that the antigens recognised are unique to the endocervix, the tissue from which the original HeLa tumour is thought to have originated (Jones et al, 1971).…”

“…The general and more speculative implication of these studies is that the use of glycoprotein immunogens from cultured tumour cell lines could be of significant value in the generation of novel antibodies, both polyclonal and (4-6pm) were placed on polylysine coated glass slides, air dried, fixed in 5% formol saline and stained with an a-HeLa glycoprotein antiserum (Koch & Smith, 1986) using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique (Heyderman, 1979).…”