Oncofoetal antigens of human trophoblast

• Published in: Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological sciences Vol. 206; no. 1163; pp. 163 - 182
• Main Authors: Faulk, W. P., Yeager, Carol, McIntyre, J. A., Ueda, Mirthes
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London The Royal Society 30-11-1979
• Subjects: Animals; Antibodies; Antigens; Carcinoembryonic Antigen - isolation & purification; Cell lines; Cell Membrane - immunology; Cell membranes; Cross Reactions; Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; HeLa cells; Humans; Immune Sera; Immunosorbent Techniques; Kidneys; Liver; Lymphocytes; Rabbits - immunology; Reactivity; Trophoblasts; Trophoblasts - immunology
• ISSN: 0080-4649; 0950-1193; 2053-9193
• DOI: 10.1098/rspb.1979.0099

Rabbits immunized with human trophoblast cell membranes produced antibodies that were detected, by immunofluorescence, to react with normal human tissues, and, by complement-mediated cytotoxicity, with several transformed human cell lines. Absorption with trophoblast abolished all of these reactions, whereas multiple absorptions with lymphocytes, liver or kidney failed to remove reactivity with either trophoblast or certain transformed cells. To further identify the antigens responsible for these antibodies, rabbits were immunized with a chromatographed fraction of deoxycholate-solubilized membranes prepared from KCl-extracted, ultracentrifuge-prepared trophoblast micro­villi. The resultant IgG antibody reacted specifically with syncytio- trophoblastic membranes in sections of human placentae, in addition to recognizing the membranes of viable Chang liver, AV3, HEp-2, Sw/156 (kidney) and Sw/527 (breast) cells. That normal tissues, baboon or monkey placentae, and HeLa or Daudi cell lines did not react with this antibody, indicates the presence of species-and organ-specific antigens in human trophoblast, as well as the existence of trophoblast cross-reactive antigens on some transformed cells. The selective localization of these antigens at the interface of the materno-foetal graft suggests that they function biologically in the host-parasite relation of human pregnancy; their appearance on many transformed cells implies a similar function in the host-parasite relation of some human cancers.