title: Are pancarcinoma T and Tn differentiation antigens?
abstract: Human fetal tissues were studied for presence of immunoreactive Thomsen-Friedenreich (T) and Tn epitopes (EPs) using well-defined anti-T and anti-Tn rodent monoclonal antibodies. T and Tn are universal (pan) carcinoma (CA) markers that are occluded in normal postfetal tissues except in some immunoprivileged enclaves. Immunohistochemical methods using avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase for staining were employed. Tissues between 45 and 117 days after ovulation were studied. In most instances, anti-T and anti-Tn antibodies showed similar immunoreactivity as demonstrated by positive immunohistochemical staining. The most intense staining was in epithelial and mesothelial components; the mesenchyme stained more faintly. All human sera have anti-T and anti-Tn antibodies, stimulated largely by intestinal flora. The presence of immunoreactive T and Tn during an early phase of fetal development, as shown here, and their known absence in noncarcinomatous postfetal tissues suggests that T and Tn, in addition to their association with CA, are stage-specific oncofetal antigens in pretolerogenic differentiation phases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Springer
mesh_terms: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000032:analysis*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; C040286:Tn antigen; C016467:Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen