Mouse fetal antigens in Rauscher leukemia.
Recently, various reports on fetal antigens associated with the plasma membranes of virus-induced tumor cells have appeared. Hanna et al. also suggested the presence of a fetal antigen on the cell membrane of Rauscher virus-induced leukemia cells. We were able to demonstrate the presence of cross-reacting antibodies against embryonic cells and Rauscher leukemia cells in the sera collected from C57BL/6 mice immunized with Rauscher leukemia cells, employing the indirect immunofluorescence test. Such cross-reacting antigenicity was also found in AKR lymphoma cells by the absorption test. The antibody was completely absorbed with embryonic cells, but not with adult spleen cells or adult C57BL/6 thymocytes. The absorption test showed that this antigen was different from Gross and Friend-Moloney-Rauscher antigens. The antigen detectable by the serum first appeared in 12-day-old embryos. It was found abundantly in the cells from the digestive tract and lungs, but not in the cells from the liver or brain. A natural antibody against the fetal antigen was also found to exist in the sera from a few aged C57BL/6 mice. The presence of the natural antibody, however, could not be related to the history of pregnancy of the mouse.
D000818:Animals; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology*; D007942:Leukemia, Experimental / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008806:Mice, Inbred AKR; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011925:Rauscher Virus
D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm