LOCATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF DIFUCOGANGLIOSIDE (VI3NEUACV3III3FUC2NLC6) IN NORMAL AND TUMOR-TISSUES DEFINED BY ITS MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY FH6

  • 1 January 1985
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 45  (8) , 3711-3717
Abstract
The distribution of a novel difucoganglioside (6B ganglioside, NeuAc.alpha.2.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4[Fuc.alpha.1.fwdarw.3]GlcNA c.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4[Fuc.alpha.1.fwdarw.3]GlcNAc.beta.1.fwdarw.3Gal.beta.1.fwdarw.4Glc.beta.a.fwdarw.1Cer) in various normal adult and fetal tissues, as well as in cancer tissues, has been studied by immunoperoxidase staining with a specific monoclonal antibody, FH6, directed to this antigen. A large variety of embryonic and fetal tissues (stomach, colon, small intestine, pancreas, esophagus, lung and heart) showed a diffuse, weakly positive staining, particularly in the epithelial layer, up to the 70th to 80th day of gestation. However, no staining was observed in various normal adult tissues, including gstrointestinal and glandular epithelial tissues which were stained positively by antibody N-19-9 (directed to sialyl-Lea) or CSLEXI (directed to sialyl-Lex). FH6-positive loci were limited to the proximal convoluted tubuli in kidney and granulocytes. In contrast, 44 of 76 cases of cancer tissue tested, including gastric, lung, breast and renal cancers, showed clearly positive staining. The intensity of staining in gastric and colonic cancer tissues by FH6 antibody was weaker and less frequent, although the incidence of positive staining for lung (50%) and breast cancer (86%) was significantly higher than that of the antigen stained by monoclonal antibody FH4 (Y. Fukushi, et al. 1984), which is directed to the asialo core of the FH6 antigen. The antigen levels in the serum of patients with various cancers, inflammatory diseases, and normal subjects were determined by radioimmunoassay. The antigen level was significantly higher in the serum of some patients with cancer, particularly lung, liver and pancreatic cancers, as compared with the serum levels in other types of cancer, noncancerous diseases and normal subjects.