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Fetal Antigens Shared as Transplantation Rejection Antigens on Chemically Induced Mouse and Hamster Sarcomas¹

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Alabama, College of Medicine, Mobile, Alabama 36688 [J. H. C., L. A.], and Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois 60439 [N. G. A.]

We have previously reported that two chemically induced sarcomas of BALB/c mice (MCA-1315 and -1321) contained common transplantation antigens which could be detected by immunization of normal BALB/c mice with irradiated tumor cells of each line. This cross-protection could not be detected in animals surgically cured of these tumor lines and challenged with a high dose of tumor cells, but it was detectable in similar animals challenged with low doses of homologous tumor cells. In this report, we demonstrate that these chemically induced tumor lines carry fetal antigens which are recognized by cytotoxic or inhibitory mouse BALB/c maternal lymphocytes sensitized during pregnancy to mouse fetal antigen. A similar fetal antigen determinant was observed on two chemically induced sarcomas of hamster which were likewise recognized by hamster maternal lymphocytes derived from 10-day pregnant donors. The time course of appearance and disappearance of spleen or exudate cells from pregnant mice capable of protecting BALB/c mice against challenge with these fetal antigen-bearing 3-methylcholanthrene-induced tumor target cells was determined. Protective lymphocytes were not detected in primiparous mice two days prior to parturition and appeared after Day 10 in pregnancy. Among animals experiencing multiple pregnancies, low but reproducible levels of protector lymphocytes could be detected by Day 8 to 9, and protective lymphocytes persisted to parturition in these animals. Correlations of these results with previous reports from this laboratory concerning the expression of fetal antigens in the membranes of embryonic and fetal cells of hamsters and mice are discussed. These data establish that common antigens shared as transplantation rejection antigens between chemically induced sarcomas of mice and hamsters are of fetal or embryonic origin.

¹ This work was supported by National Cancer Institute Grant CA22674 and by Department of Energy Contract EE-77-S-05-5601.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 10/15/79. Accepted 2/ 7/80.