Glioma-associated antigens defined by monoclonal antibodies against an avian sarcoma virus-induced rat astrocytoma

The roles of viruses in brain tumor initiation and oncomodulation

While some avian retroviruses have been shown to induce gliomas in animal models, human herpesviruses, specifically, the most extensively studied cytomegalovirus, and the much less studied roseolovirus HHV-6, and Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2, currently attract more and more attention as possible contributing or initiating factors in the development of human brain tumors. The aim of this review is to summarize and highlight the most provoking findings indicating a potential causative link between brain tumors, specifically malignant gliomas, and viruses in the context of the concepts of viral oncomodulation and the tumor stem cell origin.

Production and evaluation of syngeneic antibodies showing specificity for the A15 A5 transplantable rat glioma

Antibodies have been raised which show specificity for the A15 A5 transplantable rat glioma model. Viable, irradiated, colcemid-treated and microwave-fixed A15 A5 cells were each used to hyperimmunize BDIX rats by subcutaneous inoculation, while viable cells were also injected intracerebrally into syngeneic animals. Specific anti-A15 A5 antibodies were detected in serum by a modified enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay (ELISA). Immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescence cytochemistry revealed the presence of antigen in paraffin-wax and frozen sections, respectively, of A15 A5 gliomas. The different methods of immunogen denaturation were found to affect the degree of immunological potency of the cells. This study has shown that A15 A5 cells are immunogenic in a syngeneic host. Intracerebrally transplanted, viable cells produced antibodies of higher titre than subcutaneously-injected, denatured cells. The anti-A15 A5 antisera may be used for detection of neoplastic rat astrocytes using immunocytochemistry. These antibodies will prove to be of value in discriminating between neoplastic and normal cells at the tumor/brain interface.

Generation of cytotoxic immune responses against a rat glioma by in vivo priming and secondary in vitro stimulation with tumor cells

Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses to most antigens are generated by in vivo priming and secondary stimulation with antigen in vitro. The present studies were designed to determine whether that strategy could be used to stimulate development of CTL against brain tumors. Rats were primed with one of two tumors, RT2, an astrocytoma, or 9L, a gliosarcoma, and Corynebacterium parvum. Spleen cells from primed rats were stimulated with tumor cells and interleukin-2 in vitro to generate CTL. CTL generated against RT2 killed RT2 and 9L, but not allogeneic or histopathologically unrelated tumor cells, suggesting that the killing was brain tumor-specific and major histocompatibility complex gene product-restricted. Similar results were obtained with rats primed and secondarily stimulated with 9L. Specific cytotoxic cells only developed when syngeneic brain tumor cells were used for both priming and secondary stimulation. The cytotoxic cell populations were composed of OX-19+ T cells with a mixed CD4/CD8 phenotype. Controls consisting of spleen cells from unprimed or primed rats tested before culture exhibited low levels of cytotoxicity against brain tumor targets. Culturing unprimed or primed cells with interleukin-2 alone stimulated cell proliferation, but the cells that grew out exhibited only low levels of cytotoxicity for brain tumor cells. Cell populations exhibited consistent cytotoxicity against natural killer cell targets. None of the cell populations killed lymphokine-activated killer cell targets. The results demonstrated that brain tumor-specific CTL could be produced by priming in vivo followed by secondary stimulation with brain tumor cells in vitro. The results further demonstrated that RT2 and 9L share antigens that both induce and serve as target structures for specific cytotoxic cells.

Immunology of central nervous system tumors

With progress in cellular immunology and the development of hybridoma technology, the idea of manipulating host-tumor immune interactions to improve the prognosis of brain tumors has aroused renewed interest. Although no brain tumor-specific antigens have been found, and in spite of the wide antigenic heterogeneity of brain tumor cells, some monoclonal antibodies possessing restricted specificity have been isolated and their potential clinical applications investigated. One of the most pronounced changes in the cellular immune responses of brain tumor patients is a profound depression of the T4-helper lymphocytes. Clinical and laboratory trials are under way to assess the ability of lymphokines, such as gamma-interferon or interleukin-2, to restore immunologic competence in these patients and potentiate a specific anti-tumor immunologic response. Recent work suggests that the endothelium-astrocyte complex may have a pivotal role in assisting the escape of brain tumors from the host's immunologic responses, since it is responsible for the intracerebral sequestration of antigens and local anti-tumor responses. In this review, the data on the antigenic properties of central nervous system tumors and the host's humoral and cellular immune responses to them are analyzed and potential immunologic therapies are discussed.

Partial purification and characterization of a murine glioma-associated antigen defined by syngeneic rat monoclonal antibodies

A glioma-associated antigen was previously identified on an avian sarcoma virus-induced F-344 rat astrocytoma cell line S69-c15 by four rat monoclonal antibodies (7G4, 9F1, 10E3 and 10E7) produced after syngeneic immunization. Earlier data suggested all four antibodies reacted with a polypeptide-associated epitope. We report here that the antigen activity was detected in the supernatant of tumor homogenates and could pass through a 1000 Da molecular weight cut-off dialysis membrane, as determined by antibody binding inhibition in a cell surface radioimmunoassay. When the dialysate was fractionated by Bio-Gel P-2 chromatography, antibody inhibiting activity eluted in the range of 300-600 Da. A highly purified material was further isolated by ion exchange high pressure liquid chromatography. Parallel purification product from an antigen-negative cell line failed to demonstrate antibody inhibiting activity. We conclude that greater than 400-fold purification enrichment of antigen can be achieved. We postulate that the partially purified antigenic determinant is a glioma-associated determinant of highly restricted expression and is presented in hapten-carrier form by the glioma cells.