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Specificity of Antibodies Directed against Env Protein of Human Endogenous Retroviruses in Patients with Germ Cell Tumors¹

Abteilung Virologie, Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene, Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes, Haus 47, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany [M. S., K. R., B. B., M. A., S. S., N. M-L.]; Institut für Pathologie, Klinikum Bamberg, Burger Straße 80. D-96049 Bamberg, Germany [G. S.]; and Bundeswehrkrankenhaus. Urologische Abteilung, Lesserstrasse 180, D-22049 Hamburg, Germany [M. H.]

We report here that 85% of the patients with germ cell tumors (GCTs) produce antibodies directed against Env protein of human endogenous retroviruses. Individuals that received antitumor treatment showed a decrease with time in their antibody titers. Importantly, of the rare cases of non-GCT individuals with Env-antibodies (n = 15, 0.8%), none produced antibodies directed against the transmembrane domain (TM), whereas all tested Env-positive GCT patients (n = 49) generated such antibodies at high titers. TM is required for Env to be expressed at the cell surface. Thus, anti-TM antibodies constitute highly specific markers for GCT and may hint at a function of Env during tumorigenesis.

¹ Supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (Grant Mu 452/-1) and the Commission of the European Union (GENE-CT93-0019).

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed. Phone: 49-06841/163931; Fax: 49-06841/163980.

Received 7/ 1/96. Accepted 8/14/96.

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