This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Leong, S. P. L. Articles by Krementz, E. T. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Leong, S. P. L. Articles by Krementz, E. T.

Antibody-induced Movement of Common Melanoma Membrane Antigens on the Surface of Unfixed Human Melanoma Cells¹

Departments of Surgery [S. P. L. L., P. J. D., J. F. C.] and Medicine, and Microbiology [S. R. C.], and the Cancer Research Center, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, and Department of Surgery [C. M. S., E. T. K.], Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112

Antisera to common human melanoma antigens were obtained from melanoma patients receiving autologous immunization with their own irradiated cultured melanoma cells and Bacillus Calmette-Guérin. The antibody thus derived was used to detect common antigens on the plasma membrane of three different human melanoma cell lines by membrane immunofluorescence. The antigen-antibody complexes on the surface of melanoma cells would move to a pole (capping) and would subsequently be extruded into the extracellular milieu at room temperature. Approximately 25 to 30% of viable cells were positive by immunofluorescence. However, when the cells were fixed with methanol, 60 to 70% of cells demonstrated membrane binding. Capping was inhibited at 0° or when the cells were pretreated with vinblastine sulfate. It can be concluded that common tumor antigens exist on the surface of viable human melanoma cells and that the redistribution of antigen-antibody complexes is an active process. The extrusion of antigen-antibody complexes in vitro may represent a mechanism of antigenic modulation in vivo and could indicate a basic method of tumor survival since presumably the antigen-denuded cell is viable and capable of replication but not of recognition by subsequent effector immune events.

¹ Supported in part by GRS NIH RR05487-14, in part by PHS5P30 CA 19135-02 at Boston University, and in part by USPHS Research Grant NCI CA 05108 at Tulane University.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Division of Surgery, City of Hope National Medical Center, 1500 East Duarte Road, Duarte, California 91010.

Received 6/14/78. Accepted 3/12/79.