[Effect of oncofetal antigen-I (OFA-I) on lymphocyte response in pregnant women].
OFA-I, a membrane antigen on human malignant melanoma cells, was reported to be also found on a fetal brain tissue and to have a highly immunogenic effect on a pregnant woman. The aim in this study is to analyse an immunologic activity of OFA-I on in vitro response of lymphocytes from pregnant women. OFA-I was prepared from M-14 cells which are an in vitro cell line originating in a human malignant melanoma and purified by affinity column chromatography using the antibodies which were prepared from ascites of an embryonal carcinoma patient and exhibited anti-OFA-I activity in immune adherence test. The results obtained were as follows: No significant effect of OFA-I was found on PHA-induced lymphocyte response. A suppressive effect of OFA-I was observed on an unidirectional mixed lymphocyte culture (MLC) between a wife and husband when OFA-I was added at a concentration of more than 0.1 micrograms/ml. It was also suggested that the effect was attributable to inhibition in an initial phase of MLC. A suppressive effect of OFA-I was observed on Ig production of PWM-stimulated lymphocytes at a final concentration of more than 0.25 micrograms/ml. There was no significantly difference between the effect in pregnant and non-pregnant women. Furthermore, the effect was demonstrated to be mediated with macrophages in the culture system. From these findings, it was implied that OFA-I might play an important role in maternal immune recognition in the feto-placental unit.
D000328:Adult; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D011247:Pregnancy
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; C031192:oncofetal antigens