concanavalin-a and Teratoma

Alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) is widely used in the diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring and follow-up of patients with germ cell tumours. On occasion, the interpretation of a raised serum AFP measurement in a patient is confounded by the fact that AFP also increases in a variety of liver and gastrointestinal diseases. AFP exists as a number of isoforms, which can be separated by their differential binding to plant lectins. Thus, AFP-concanavalin A (ConA) binding affords a means of distinguishing between a raised AFP of teratoma or liver aetiology and has recently been reported to possess sensitivity and specificity approaching 100%. We present a patient in whom column chromatographic ConA binding was used as a basis for clinical management decisions for treatment for relapsed germ cell testicular tumour. The presumption of high test specificity led to a delay in the diagnosis of cancer recurrence, from which the patient ultimately died. We conclude that the clinical utility of lectin binding assays currently remains uncertain and further evaluation is warranted.

Topics: Adult; alpha-Fetoproteins; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Biomarkers, Tumor; Chromatography, Affinity; Combined Modality Therapy; Concanavalin A; Humans; Male; Orchiectomy; Radiotherapy Dosage; Sensitivity and Specificity; Teratoma; Testicular Neoplasms

Concanavalin A (Con A) and lentil lectin (LCA) analysis of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) glycosylation heterogeneity is used in a variety of clinical situations. We studied the influence of analytical conditions on the separation of AFP glycoforms by using lectin-crossed affinoimmunoelectrophoresis, regardless of the AFP concentration, which can vary over a wide range in biological fluids. We defined the optimal concentration of Con A (2 g/L) and LCA (0.35 g/L) in the first-dimension gel, together with the optimum antigen (AFP)/antibody ratio in the second-dimension gel. The presence of protein in the diluent used for AFP samples was found to change the shape of crossed affinoimmunoelectrophoresis patterns without changing the percentage composition of AFP fractions. The within-run CV was less than 4% for both lectins, and the between-run CV was less than 6.3%. The minimal quantity of AFP that provided a visible pattern with both lectins was 4 ng, corresponding to 50 microL of an 80 micrograms/L AFP sample. These technical conditions allow the cellular origin of AFP to be determined, regardless of the concentration in the sample. Typical AFP lectin patterns of secreting tumors are compared with fetal and cord serum AFP.

Topics: alpha-Fetoproteins; Amniotic Fluid; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Concanavalin A; Fetal Blood; Humans; Immune Sera; Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; Lectins; Liver Neoplasms; Plant Lectins; Teratoma

Reference values for postnatal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and concanavalin A (ConA) binding subfractions of AFP in preterm and term infants are presented. Preterm infants had 10-fold higher serum concentrations of AFP than did term infants at birth. The reduction of serum values of AFP was biphasic in both groups and differed significantly between the two groups. The first declining phase continued for approximately 4 months in preterm and for 2 months in term infants, and was related to the degree of prematurity. The AFP values reached adult levels by 12 months in preterm and by 9 months in term infants. The developmental pattern of the carbohydrate moiety of AFP was determined by ConA fractioning. The proportion of the ConA nonreactive subfraction of AFP in preterm and term infants at birth was 6% and 13%, respectively; it increased more rapidly in term than in preterm infants but reached 85% to 95% by the age of 6 months in both infant groups. Our results indicate that the postnatal maturation of AFP synthesis is dependent on gestational age. Malignant recurrences of neonatal sacrococcygeal teratomas were associated with an increase in serum concentration of AFP and a decrease in the proportion of the ConA nonreactive subfraction of AFP.

Topics: alpha-Fetoproteins; Concanavalin A; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Infant, Premature, Diseases; Reference Values; Sacrococcygeal Region; Soft Tissue Neoplasms; Teratoma

A concanavalin-A(Con A)-resistant variant of the pluripotent mouse embryonal carcinoma cell line, PSA1-NG2, was isolated. This variant, designated NG2-2.16, fails to exhibit the extensive spontaneous differentiation displayed by PSA1-NG2 in colonies in vitro and in tumours in vivo. The molecular nature of the defect in NG2-2.16 cells was not revealed by quantitative studies of the binding, uptake and metabolism of tritiated Con A, or by Western blotting of membrane and whole cell homogenates, thus indicating the defect to be the result of a more subtle molecular alteration. Statistical evidence suggests that the same mutation is responsible for both the Con A resistance and the lack of spontaneous differentiation. NG2-2.16 cells were induced to differentiate by exposure to retinoic acid, suggesting that the mutation affects the regulation of differentiation rather than the potential for differentiation.

Topics: Animals; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Concanavalin A; Drug Resistance; Mice; Mutation; Teratoma; Tretinoin

Retinoic acid induces differentiation of embryonal carcinoma F9 cells into parietal endoderm. The surface proteins of F9 cells from induced and control cultures were labeled with the 125I-lactoperoxidase system and analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Their quantitative comparison has shown an 11-fold increase of protein p220 of apparent MW 220,000 and isoelectric point 5.6. Among other enhanced surface proteins, 3.5-fold increases of p50, p45, and p40 of MW 50,000-40,000 and isoelectric point 5.1-5.3 were observed. Simultaneously another surface protein, p70 of MW 70,000 and isoelectric point 6.1-6.3, disappeared. The quantitative changes of surface proteins produced after treatment with retinoic acid were enhanced in the presence of dibutyryl cAMP. Analysis of lectin-binding proteins demonstrated that increasing proteins p220, p50, p45, and p40 have an affinity for concanavalin A, whereas p70, which decreases, has an affinity for wheat germ agglutinin. Antibodies raised against p70 from undifferentiated cells have shown a specific immunoreaction with p220 from differentiated cells and also with the subunit B of purified laminin. The electrophoretic mobilities of p220 and of the B subunit of laminin are similar. It is suggested that p70, p220, and laminin B subunit share structural homology.

Topics: Animals; Bucladesine; Cell Differentiation; Cell Line; Concanavalin A; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; Embryonal Carcinoma Stem Cells; Glycoproteins; Immunologic Techniques; Laminin; Lectins; Neoplastic Stem Cells; Receptors, Mitogen; Surface Properties; Teratoma; Tretinoin; Wheat Germ Agglutinins

Techniques have been studied which distinguish two variants of human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on the basis of characteristics of the carbohydrate moiety of this glycoprotein. AFP in serum samples from six children with tumors of yolk sac origin showed little concanavalin-A (Con A) binding. In contrast, Con A binding of AFP was almost complete in serum samples from 14 other subjects with elevated AFP, including two with liver-cell tumors, eight with neonatal cholestasis, and four normal newborn infants. Differences were confirmed by immunoelectrophoretic studies. Thus, AFP from cells of yolk sac origin can be distinguished from AFP from liver cells or from tumors of hepatic cell origin.

Topics: alpha-Fetoproteins; Bile Ducts; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Child; Child, Preschool; Cholestasis; Chromatography, Affinity; Concanavalin A; Female; Hepatitis; Humans; Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Jaundice, Neonatal; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Mesonephroma; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Teratoma

Using a modified method of Con A, LCH or PHA-E affinity crossed-line immunoelectrophoresis, we studied AFP subfractions in 78 sera including 58 from patients with primary hepatoma, 11 from patients with hepatic metastasis of gastric cancer and 9 from patients with germ cell tumors of the gonads (yolk sac tumor, immature solid teratoma or mature solid teratoma). It was found that AFP in primary hepatoma, metastatic hepatoma or germ cell tumors of the gonads were differently glycosylated, and different patterns of AFP subfractions identified by Con A, LCH or PHA-E affinity crossed-line immunoelectrophoresis facilitated a differential diagnosis of such AFP related malignancies.

Topics: alpha-Fetoproteins; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Concanavalin A; Female; Humans; Immunoelectrophoresis; Immunoelectrophoresis, Two-Dimensional; Lectins; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Mesonephroma; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Ovarian Neoplasms; Teratoma; Testicular Neoplasms

We determined by affinity chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose the carbohydrate variant patterns of alphafetoprotein in the sera of 15 infants and children with endodermal sinus tumors (five cases), a neonatal mature teratoma (one case), hepatoblastomas (two cases), pancreatic carcinoma (one case), biliary atresia (four cases), neonatal hepatitis (one case) and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (one case), in the sera from four normal neonates, and in the sera from two kinds of nude mice bearing human endodermal sinus tumors. Sera from patients with endodermal sinus tumors and pancreatic carcinoma were found to contain a relatively high proportion (48.4 +/- 4.5 and 52.6%) of alphafetoprotein which did not bind to concanavalin A. Sera from nude mice with human endodermal sinus tumors contained AFP, 96.2% of which did not bind to concanavalin A. Sera from patients with other lesions (nine cases) and from normal neonates, whose AFPs are all presumed to be of hepatic origin, contained much less (5.9 +/- 3.6%) of the concanavalin A non-binding AFP variant. These results indicate that human AFP has three distinct patterns of reactivity with concanavalin A and that studies in xenograft models may give important information relating to the glycosylation and secretion process of AFP.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; alpha-Fetoproteins; Animals; Biliary Tract Diseases; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Child; Child, Preschool; Chromatography, Affinity; Concanavalin A; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Liver Neoplasms; Male; Mesonephroma; Mice; Mice, Nude; Neoplasm Transplantation; Teratoma

Lymphocytes from athymic and normal mice were tested and compared for cytotoxic activity after in vitro cultures supplemented with concanavalin A or T-cell growth factor (TCGF). Our results indicate that, in addition to cytotoxic T cells, natural killer (NK) activity can be recovered from lymphocytes cultured in the presence of TCGF and that this is not the result of contaminating interferon in the TCGF preparations. The NK nature of the effector cells was established by means of a panel of target cells, including a teratocarcinoma tumour cell, which enabled the distinction of T-cell- and NK-cell-mediated lysis.

Topics: Animals; Antigens, Neoplasm; Cell Differentiation; Concanavalin A; Interleukin-2; Killer Cells, Natural; Mice; Mice, Inbred C3H; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Inbred CBA; T-Lymphocytes, Cytotoxic; Teratoma

Human teratocarcinoma derived cells, line PA 1, were labeled with radioactive monosaccharides and subsequently digested with pronase. Large sized glycopeptides (fraction A) were isolated by gel filtration on Bio-Gel P-10. Their chromatography on concanavalin A-Sepharose gave three subfractions, two of which were eluted with a sugar-free buffer and the third with 10 mM alpha-methyl mannoside. The first subfraction (fraction A-Con A Ia) incorporated label from [3H]galactose and [3H]glucosamine and contained the largest components of fraction A. The second and the third subfractions (fractions A-Con A Ib and A-Con A II) were glycopeptides which incorporated label from tritiated fucose, mannose, galactose, and glucosamine. Even these molecules were of large size eluting partially at the void volume from Bio-Gel P-60. The glycopeptides of fraction A-Con A Ib contained mannose, fucose, galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and N-acetylgalactosamine. Fucose and galactose residues occupied ultimate or penultimate positions at the nonreducing termini of the oligosaccharides. N-Acetylneuraminic acid, too, was present in the glycopeptides of fraction A.

Topics: Cell Line; Chromatography, Affinity; Chromatography, Gel; Chromatography, Paper; Chromatography, Thin Layer; Concanavalin A; Glycopeptides; Humans; Pronase; Teratoma

Human AFP purified from fetal serum and amniotic fluid was separated into three different variants by chromatography on concanavalin A insolubilized on Sepharose (Con A--Sepharose). The three variants were indistinguishable in immunodiffusion and radioimmunoassay. Sera from patients with yolk-sac tumor and amniotic fluid from early pregnancy were found to contain a high proportion (15-45%) of AFP which does not bind to Con A, while AFP in fetal and newborn sera, and in amniotic fluid from late pregnancy, contained less (2-6%) of this variant. The use of a large excess of Con A--Sepharose and the fact that the non-bound AFP consistently eluted as non-bound in rechromatography showed that this AFP is non-reactive with Con A. Fractionation of radiolabelled AFP from cord serum in a mixture with amniotic fluid verified the difference in the amount of the Con-A nonreactive variant in AFP from these two sources. These results suggest that AFP synthesized by the yolk-sac tissue and by the liver are glycosylated differently. The variant may prove to be diagnostically useful.

Topics: alpha-Fetoproteins; Amniotic Fluid; Carbohydrates; Chromatography, Affinity; Concanavalin A; Female; Fetal Blood; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Infant, Newborn; Liver; Liver Neoplasms; Mesonephroma; Ovarian Neoplasms; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Radioimmunoassay; Teratoma

Topics: Age Factors; Animals; Cell Line; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Concanavalin A; Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; Histocompatibility Antigens; Immunity, Cellular; Male; Mice; Simian virus 40; T-Lymphocytes; Teratoma; Testis

We have studied the interaction of five lectins differing in their sugar specificity, with the surface of clonal cell lines derived from transplantable murine teratocarcinoma. The results show that the differentiation from primitive embryonal carcinoma cells into parietal yolk sac cells is accompanied by changes in cell surface saccharides. These changes consist of a marked decrease in the total number of binding sites for the L-fucose-specific lectin of Lotus tetragonolobus and a large increase in the total number of binding sites for wax bean agglutinin. It is suggested that these differences can be used as markers in the study of this early embryonic differentiation. No agglutination of primitive embryonal carcinoma cells or of parietal yolk sac cells by low concentrations (10mug/ml) of concanavalin A, soybean agglutinin or the fucose binding proteins was observed.

Topics: Binding Sites; Carbohydrate Metabolism; Cell Line; Cell Membrane; Concanavalin A; Fucose; Lectins; Protein Binding; Species Specificity; Teratoma

An alpha-feto-protein (AFP) is present in many mammals, in birds, and in sharks during development. The AFP present in different species have similar physicochemical properties and often have common antigenic determinants. Their study, both in health and disease, has provided a useful model for the understanding of other phase-specific antigens and the activation of the genes which control their synthesis. In the human fetus, the level of AFP falls with increasing maturity. The more sensitive methods of detection have disclosed that this fetal protein persists in trace amounts throughout life and its level increases in maternal blood during pregnancy. The principal sites of synthesis are the fetal liver and in some mammals, the yolk sac splanchnopleur. In humans as well as in mice and cows, it is notable that the synthesis of AFP is increased in liver cancer cells and that high levels of this protein are present in serum. Elevated values of AFP have also been detected in human subjects with undifferentiated tumours of the testis and ovary. A fall to normal levels has been noted in cases of complete remission after surgery and a return to high levels in patients who develop metastases. In some patients with hepatitis a temporary rise in the level of AFP has also been observed. In recent years, the detection of high levels of AFP in amniotic fluid has proved to be of great value for the prenatal diagnosis of neural-tube defects. Abnormal levels have also been found in the amniotic fluid or in maternal serum in cases of spontaneous abortion. Such measurements are now being assessed as a methodof monitoring abnormal pregnancy.

Topics: alpha-Fetoproteins; Amniotic Fluid; Anencephaly; Animals; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Concanavalin A; Cystic Fibrosis; Down Syndrome; Female; Fetal Proteins; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Gestational Age; Hepatitis; Humans; Immunologic Techniques; Infant, Newborn; Liver; Liver Neoplasms; Metabolism, Inborn Errors; Neoplasm Metastasis; Neoplasms, Experimental; Pregnancy; Spinal Dysraphism; Teratoma

On the basis of the previous study, on the cell interaction between malignant tumor cells and other cells, especially with lymphocytes, the present study was carried out by investigating cell to cell interaction of human malignant tumor cells and human lymphoblastoid cells such as T-cell (MOLT-4 cell) and B-cell (Burkitt lymphoma cell). As a result it has been revealed that live lymphoblastoid cells were not adhered on the cell surface of the tumor cells, nor is it ingested by tumor cells, but in thepresence of HVJ (Sendai virus: 2,000 H.A. units) it adheres slightly on the cell surface of tumor cell but no cell fusion of tumor cells and lymphoblastoid cells is observable. On the other hand, the tumor cell as well as T-cell and B-cell all have receptors to concanavalin A (Con. A) on their cell surfaces, and they show a marked cell binding such as tumor cell and T-cell, tumor cell and B-cell, and there can be observed a marked phagocytosis of lymphoblastoid cells by tumor cells. Moreover, the tumor cells that have phagocytized lymphoblastoid cells undergo a marked cell destruction within 4 hours of cell-binding and phagocytosis, which is especially prominent in the case of phagocytosis of E.B cell by tumor cell.

Topics: Animals; Antigen-Antibody Reactions; B-Lymphocytes; Cell Line; Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; Chickens; Concanavalin A; Cricetinae; Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; Erythrocytes; Female; Glutaral; Humans; Immune Adherence Reaction; Leukemia, Lymphoid; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; Lymphocytes; Neoplasms; Ovarian Neoplasms; Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human; Phagocytosis; Sheep; T-Lymphocytes; Teratoma

Topics: Agglutination; Analysis of Variance; Animals; Cell Count; Cell Membrane; Concanavalin A; Edetic Acid; Embryo, Mammalian; Embryo, Nonmammalian; Glucosamine; Glucose; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Kinetics; Lectins; Methods; Mice; Neoplasms, Experimental; Receptors, Drug; Sea Urchins; Temperature; Teratoma; Vibration