ganglioside--gd2 and Cell-Transformation--Viral

GM2 ganglioside is a common cell surface constituent of human melanoma and other tumors of neuroectodermal origin, and vaccination with GM2 ganglioside results in high levels of anti-GM2 antibodies in patients with melanoma. Lymphocytes from a GM2-vaccinated patient (VS) were transformed by Epstein-Barr virus and tested for production of antibodies with reactivity for GM2-positive tumor cells. A high percentage of antibody-producing B cells was detected, but antibody reactivity was generally lost during culture expansion. Two cultures, however, remained stable for antibody productivity and one was used to develop a stable hybrid line with mouse myeloma. The monoclonal antibody (designated 3-207) derived from patient VS has dual specificity for GM2 and GD2, despite the fact that only GM2 antibody could be detected in the patient's serum. Monoclonal antibody 3-207 shows high-titered reactivity with a range of melanoma, astrocytoma, neuroblastoma, and leukemia cell lines, cells with prominent cell surface expression of GM2 and GD2. The cell surface reactivity of monoclonal antibody 3-207 was not abolished by treatment of target cells with neuraminidase, as the enzyme converted GD2 to GM2, which was still detected by monoclonal antibody 3-207.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; BCG Vaccine; Cell Fusion; Cell Line; Cell Transformation, Viral; Chromatography, Thin Layer; G(M2) Ganglioside; Gangliosides; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Melanoma; Mice; Neuraminidase; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Vaccines

Human IgM kappa antibody to a membrane antigen of human tumors of neuroectodermal origin (melanoma, glioma and neuroblastoma) has been detected in the spent culture fluid of an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-transformed human B-lymphoblastoid cell line, L72. The chemical nature of the antigen was identified as ganglioside GD2. The antibody was purified by precipitation of L72 culture fluid with ammonia sulfate and hypotonic buffer followed by ultracentrifugation and Sephacryl S-300 super gel filtration. Approximately 27 mg of pure human IgM was obtained from 101 of spent medium. Total IgM and antibody activity recovery efficiency was 60% and 75%, respectively. The monoclonal character of the immunoglobulin produced by the L72 cell line was determined by agarose isoelectric focusing and immunofixation techniques. 1 mg of the purified IgM possessed an antibody titer endpoint to a GD2-positive melanoma cell line of 1:10,000 as assayed by immune adherence and 1:100 titer by complement-dependent cytotoxicity in vitro. The effect of pure anti-GD2 on suppression of melanoma growth in vivo was tested using a nude mouse model. Three-week-old CD-1 nude mice bearing 2-3 mm M14-A subcutaneous melanoma nodules were treated intraperitoneally with anti-GD2 and rabbit complement. Tumor growth was retarded for 25 days when compared to that of control mice receiving non-specific human IgM and complement. On Day 15, treated tumors were 80% smaller than control tumors. These result indicated that the pure human monoclonal antibody to GD2 may have potential for cancer therapy.

Topics: Animals; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies, Neoplasm; Antigens, Neoplasm; Cell Line; Cell Transformation, Viral; Complement System Proteins; Cytotoxicity, Immunologic; Gangliosides; Herpesvirus 4, Human; Humans; Immunoglobulin M; Melanoma; Mice; Mice, Nude