The role of the Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen as a tumor-associated molecule.
The Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (Gal-GalNAc) represents a tumor-associated molecule, which is assumed to be one of the few chemically well-defined antigens with a proven association with malignancy. In order to analyze the role of the carbohydrate structure Gal-GalNAc for gastrointestinal tumors, we immunized Balb/c mice with MCF-7 breast tumor cells together with synthetic Gal-GalNAc linked to a BSA carrier. One monoclonal antibody (82-A6) was established which recognizes the Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen according to the biochemical and serological analysis presented here. In contrast to the studies performed in the past, immunohistochemical results using this antibody 82-A6 did not exhibit a reactivity clearly restricted to tumors. Preliminary biochemical analysis revealed that the T-determinant is detectable in the high-molecular weight range (about 1000 kD), suggesting that the Gal-GalNAc epitope is found on mucinlike glycoproteins. Tumor restriction of Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen may therefore be determined either by the protein backbone or by the beta-glycosidic linkage of the carbohydrate structure to the protein.
Dippold
W
W
Department of Internal Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Federal Republic of Germany.
Steinborn
A
A
Meyer zum Büschenfelde
K H
KH
D000906:Antibodies; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D004187:Disaccharides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D008970:Molecular Weight; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000276:immunology
D000906:Antibodies; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D004187:Disaccharides; C016467:Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen; C025991:Thomsen-Friedenreich antibodies