title: The isolation and characterization of tumor-specific antigens of rodent and human tumors.
abstract: Putative tumor-specific transplantation antigens (TSTA) from both a carcinogen-induced rodent tumor (MC-1) and 2 human tumors were purified. The antigens were solubilized from the tumor cell membranes by limited papain digestion in a manner similar to that described for the isolation of normal histocompatibility antigens. The antitumor immune response of the tumor-bearing host was used to monitor the purification of the putative TSTA in both the rodent and human tumor systems. In the case of the rodent tumor, a major step in the purification of the TSTA involved affinity chromatography on Sepharose beads coupled to autologous antitumor antiserum. A comparable procedure was utilized in the purification of the TSTA from human tumors by using affinity chromatography on anti-human beta2-microglobulin antiserum coupled to a solid phase. The data obtained indicate that the TSTA of human tumors contains a beta2-microglobulin chain that is immunochemically identical with, and very similar in size to, that found in normal human histocompatibility antigens. A subunit of similar size was also identified in the carcinogen-induced rodent tumor. These results suggest that the TSTA in both humans and rodents may well be altered histocompatibility antigens.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002621:Chemistry; D005260:Female; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012513:Sarcoma, Experimental / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D006649:Histocompatibility Antigens