IMMUNOLOGICAL DETECTION OF AN ANTIGEN ASSOCIATED WITH HUMAN BLADDER CARCINOMA CELL LINES

Abstract

The cellular insoluble lipoprotein extract was prepared from a bladder transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). This extract was solubilized by the aid of deoxycholate and the solubilized fraction was chromatographed on Sepharose 4B. With the retained fraction, antisera were produced by the immunization of guinea pig. After suitable absorptions, the immune sera allowed the characterization of an antigen closely associated with TCC by double gel diffusion. Indirect viable cell immunofluorescence studies with the immune sera rendered TCC-specific after absorptions revealed tumor-associated antigens on the plasma membrane of all 5 human TCC cell lines including T24 and RT4, but not of 4 non-TCC cell lines tested. Antibody-induced redistribution experiments showed that the TCC-associated antigen and β2-microglobulin exist as separate molecules on the cell surface.