The Rauscher-MuLV-induced leukemia, RBL-5, bears two tumor-associated transplantation antigens expressed on distinct molecules

• Published in: International journal of cancer Vol. 36; no. 6; p. 713
• Main Authors: Galetto, G, Law, L W, Rogers, M J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 15.12.1985
• Subjects: Animals; Antigens, Neoplasm - analysis; Antigens, Neoplasm - genetics; Antigens, Neoplasm - immunology; Antigens, Surface - immunology; Cell Line; Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose; Cross Reactions; Epitopes - genetics; Friend murine leukemia virus; Glycoproteins - immunology; Glycoproteins - isolation & purification; Histocompatibility Antigens - analysis; Leukemia, Experimental - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Moloney murine leukemia virus; Rauscher Virus; Transplantation Immunology
• ISSN: 0020-7136; 1097-0215
• DOI: 10.1002/ijc.2910360616

Tumor cells frequently express on their surface a new antigenic determinant which renders them immunogenic in the host animal. When immunity to this antigen results in rejection of a syngeneic tumor transplant, it is referred to as a tumor-associated transplantation antigen (TATA). RBL-5 is a Rauscher murine leukemia virus (MuLV)-induced leukemia of C57B1/6 origin that is potently immunogenic and shares a TATA with other tumors induced by the closely related Friend and Moloney-MuLVs (FMR-TATA). We have recently isolated a 175 kilodalton (kd) glycoprotein (gp175) which has all the properties expected of the FMR-TATA (Rogers et al., 1984). When this molecule was separated from a purified total glycoprotein fraction by DEAE chromatography, the remaining glycoproteins still contained a highly immunogenic TATA. Control experiments involving radioimmunoassay and immunoprecipitation with rabbit anti-gp175 indicated that this immunogenicity was not due to residual gp175 or breakdown products of gp175. We therefore conclude that RBL-5 expresses at least two distinct TATAs: gp175 and another glycoprotein distinguished from gp175 by its elution from a diethylaminoethyl-cellulose (DE52) column. These results, from a completely in vivo system, support data with other tumors obtained by in vitro methods and indicate that tumor cells may express several immunogenic molecules.