Induction of antitumor immunity by tumor cells treated with abrin.
Abrin is known as a cytotoxic lectin. Immunization with Meth-A tumor cells which were treated in vitro with abrin induced a strong antitumor immunity in syngeneic BALB/c mice. The immunizing effect was stronger than that produced by an irradiated Meth-A tumor cell vaccine. Studies on the mechanisms of the immunizing effect with the abrin-treated tumor cells demonstrated that abrin acts as an immunoadjuvant. Furthermore, the regression of a growing Meth-A tumor was observed after abrin was injected into the tumor, while the induction of a strong antitumor immunity also occurred. It appears, therefore, that the antitumor effects of abrin are attributable to two kinds of activity: cytotoxicity and adjuvant activity.
D000036:Abrin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology*; D007109:Immunity; D007114:Immunization; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D009374:Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014181:Transplantation Immunology; D014612:Vaccines
D010940:Plant Proteins; D014612:Vaccines; D000036:Abrin; D008748:Methylcholanthrene