Human Leukemia Antigen. I. Production and Characterization of Antisera2

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Abstract
Rabbits were immunized with papain digests of cell membranes from the cultured Iymphoblastoid RAJI cell line and fresh human lymphoma tissue. Without any prior absorptions, the antisera showed specificity for leukemia cells. The undiluted antisera were not cytotoxic to normal lymphocytes, normal granulocytes, and Iymphocytes from leukemia patients in remission. However, the antisera were cytotoxic to all types of myeloid and Iymphocytic leukemia cells. The RAJI antiserum was active to a titer of 1 ∶ 16 and the lymphoma antiserum to a titer of 1 ∶ 128. The antisera did not appear to be acting solely against blast cell antigens because normal phytohemagglutinin blasts and bone marrow cells were not killed. Lymphoblastoid cell lines were killed but at a much lower titer (1 ∶ 2 and 1 ∶ 8). The antibody activity could be removed by absorption with RAJI cells and leukemia cells but not by normal granulocytes. Twentyfold more normal Iymphocytes than RAJI cells could also absorb the leukemia antibody. Experiments suggested that human lymphocytes could nonspecifically absorb rabbit antibodies. The potential clinical use of the leukemia antisera was discussed.

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