Quantitative in vitro measurement of simian virus 40 tumor-specific antigens

Specific Antibodies Reacting with SV40 Large T Antigen Mimotopes in Serum Samples of Healthy Subjects

Simian Virus 40, experimentally assayed in vitro in different animal and human cells and in vivo in rodents, was classified as a small DNA tumor virus. In previous studies, many groups identified Simian Virus 40 sequences in healthy individuals and cancer patients using PCR techniques, whereas others failed to detect the viral sequences in human specimens. These conflicting results prompted us to develop a novel indirect ELISA with synthetic peptides, mimicking Simian Virus 40 capsid viral protein antigens, named mimotopes. This immunologic assay allowed us to investigate the presence of serum antibodies against Simian Virus 40 and to verify whether Simian Virus 40 is circulating in humans. In this investigation two mimotopes from Simian Virus 40 large T antigen, the viral replication protein and oncoprotein, were employed to analyze for specific reactions to human sera antibodies. This indirect ELISA with synthetic peptides from Simian Virus 40 large T antigen was used to assay a new collection of serum samples from healthy subjects. This novel assay revealed that serum antibodies against Simian Virus 40 large T antigen mimotopes are detectable, at low titer, in healthy subjects aged from 18–65 years old. The overall prevalence of reactivity with the two Simian Virus 40 large T antigen peptides was 20%. This new ELISA with two mimotopes of the early viral regions is able to detect in a specific manner Simian Virus 40 large T antigen-antibody responses.

Characterization of the surface proteins of SV40-transformed mouse and human cells: absence of SV40-specific proteins

The proteins of a number of SV40- and spontaneously transformed mouse and human cell lines were compared in an effort to identify a surface protein which would correspond to the SV40 tumor-specific transplantation antigen (TSTA). Analysis of the one- and two-dimensional electrophoretic patterns of 35S-methionine-labelled total proteins and 125I-labelled surface proteins of several of these cell lines failed to reveal the presence of proteins specific to transformation by SV40. Antisera were prepared against SV40- and spontaneously transformed mouse cells in syngeneic mice. In serological assays, these antisera reacted with surface antigens common to both SV40- and spontaneously transformed mouse cell lines. Electrophoretic analysis of the 125I-surface-labelled proteins which these antisera immunoprecipitated from extracts of SV40- and spontaneously transformed mouse and human cells identified a set of common surface proteins with apparent molecular weights of 15, 46, 50, 72, 77, 105, 150 and 230kdal. No SV40-specific surface proteins were detected. Two of the transformed cell surface proteins (105 and 150kdal) were present as well in membrane fractions of 35S-methionine-labelled primary mouse kidney cultures. The proteins of the primary cultures could not be iodinated by lactoperoxidase suggesting that these proteins were present at a "cryptic" location at the surface of normal cells. We were not able to obtain serological or immunochemical evidence for the presence of SV40 large T-antigen at the surface of any of the SV40-transformed cell lines tested using either hamster anti-SV40 tumor sera, a rabbit antiserum against SDS-denatured gel-purified large T-antigen or antisera against SV40-transformed mouse cells. In conjunction with the report that large T-antigen released from disrupted SV40-transformed cells will bind to cell surfaces (Lange-Mutschler and Henning, 1982), we consider the possibility that the specific rejection of SV40-induced tumors by sensitized animals is the result of immunological reactions against both common transformation-related surface antigens and SV40 T-antigen from disrupted cells that has bound to the surface of other tumor cells.

Interaction between cellular and viral genes in the expression of the RSV-induced transformation-specific cell-surface antigen VCSA

Transformation of BHK hamster fibroblasts by an env- strain of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) leads to the appearance at the cell surface of a virus-induced nonvirion antigen (VCSA), specific for transformation, whose expression is controlled by the transforming src gene. Previous work has shown that a rabbit anti-VCSA serum lyses specifically, in the presence of complement, 51Cr-labelled RSV-transformed cells from different animal species. Now, by competition experiments with a panel of different unlabelled cells we show that the VCSA expressed on RSV-transformed hamster fibroblasts is a complex of at least three distinct antigenic specificities: (1) one expressed on all RSV-transformed fibroblasts, regardless their species and the subgroup or strain of the transforming virus; (2) one cross-reacting with a cell-surface antigen (CSA) expressed at various degrees on untransformed avian fibroblasts, but not on mammalian fibroblasts; (3) one species-specific, present only on RSV-transformed hamster fibroblasts. It is concluded that VCSA is a complex of several antigenic determinants, and that some of these differ in different cells transformed by RSV. This observation indicates that VCSA expression at the cell surface is likely to be the result of the interaction between the viral src gene product pp60src with host cell gene(s) or gene product(s), rather than the simple expression of this molecule at the cell surface.

Target antigens for antibodies and complement at the cell surface of RSV-transformed fibroblasts

Using cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), an RNA tumour virus whose genetic and structural composition is fully known, the virus-induced surface antigens acting as targets for antibodies and complement were studied. Among the virus structural proteins, only the envelope antigen gp85, but not the core group-specific proteins or reverse transcriptase, were able to mediate immune lysis in the 51Cr-release assay. The group-specific antigenic determinants of gp85 were predominantly involved. The virus-induced cell surface antigen (VCSA), specific for transformation, was the only other molecule effective. Since different cells express either of these antigens, further support is given to the non-identity of virus structural antigens and VCSA.

Tumor-specific and tumor-associated membrane antigens of Rous sarcoma virus transformed hamster fibroblasts

Hamster fibroblasts transformed by an env- strain of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) express at their surface tumor-associated antigens of unknown origin and a tumor-specific antigen (VCSA) which is not expressed by hamster fibroblasts transformed by unrelated DNA or RNA oncogenic viruses. This antigen was detectable by rabbit antibodies and a complement-dependent 51Cr-release cytotoxicity assay and is common to RSV-transformed cells of different animal species. By comparing the anti-VCSA serum which antisera directed against purified gp85, gs-proteins, reverse transcriptase or detergentlysed virus particles, it was shown that VCSA is not a known virion structural protein. Moreover, VCSA expression does not correlate with viral replication since it is not detectable in chick embryo fibroblasts productively infected with the transformation-defective virus RAV-1 which shares virus structural genes with RSV. Finally, in hamster cells transformed by an RSV mutant, temperature-sensitive for the ability to transform the host cell, VCSA expression at the cell surface correlates with the expression of the transforming gene.

Expression of tumor-specific transplantation antigen in cell lines transformed by wild-type of tsA mutant simian virus 40

The simian virus 40-induced tumor-specific surface antigen(s) (TSSA) and tumor-specific transplantation antigen(s) (TSTA)were detected in cells transformed by wild-type or temperature-sensitive mutant simian virus 40 by an antibody-mediated cytolytic assay for TSSA and an immunization test for TSTA. Cells transformed by tsA mutants, which lose their transformed phenotype when grown at nonpermissive temperatures, nonetheless do express TSSA and TSTA as well as T-antigen at both temperatures.

Detergent solubilization and partial purification of tumor specific surface and transplantation antigens from SV40-virus-transformed mouse cells

A solubilization technique employing 0.5% Triton X-100 was developed to obtain both SV40 virus (SV40)-induced tumor-specific surface antigen(s) (TSSA) from SV40-transformed mouse cells, as determined by a serum-mediated microcytolytic assay, and tumor-specific transplantation antigen(s) (TSTA), as determined by in invivo experiments. High yields (approximately 50%) of TSSA were obtained in whole-cell extracts and also after ammonium sulfate fractionation. Additional fractionation of a 30-50% ammonium sulfate fraction by gel exclusion chromatography on Sephadex G-150 resulted in two pooled fractions which contained TSSA activity. The first eluted close to the void volume, and the second in the 45,000 molecular weight region. The various TSSA active fractions were also active in vivo TSTA tests. Detergent solubilization provides a suitable technique to recover the SV40-induced antigens in good yield, and apparently in intact form.

Expression and thermal stability of simian virus 40 tumor-specific transplantation antigen and tumor antigen in wild type- and tsA mutant-transformed cells

We have explored aspects of a suggested relationship between the expression of simian virus 40 tumor-specific transplantation antigen (TSTA) and tumor antigen (TA). A unique rat embryo cell line transformed by a temperature-sensitive A mutant that loses TA during exposure to the nonpermissive temperature (A28-RE) was found to lose TSTA. On the other hand, a typical control tsA-transformed cell line (A239-MB) expressed both TA and TSTA at the non-permissive temperature. TA in lysates obtained from A239-MB cells was found to be three to four times more thermolabile by covwt-mb) when incubated at either 33 or 40 degrees C. These data complement previous reports using TA from lytic infection and are consistent with the suggestion that TA is virus encoded. In contrast to TA, which even in wild-type-transformed cells was completely destroyed in less than 10 min at 50 degrees C, TSTA, assayed in vivo by tumor rejection, and tumor-specific surface antigen(s) TSSA) defined by an in vitro cytolytic assay, were thermostabile. Even after 24 h of incubation of extracts of 50 degrees C, high levels of TSTA and TSSA activity were present. Since these surface antigens when obtained from cells transformed by tsA mutants were also thermostabile, they could not be distinguished from the wild-type antigens. These results (i) indicate a coordinate expression of TA and TSTA in transformed cells; (ii) confirm that TA is virus encoded; and (iii) confirm that tha antigenic and immunogenic determinants that characterize TA and TSTA activities are distinct. However, the possibility that TSTA, like TA, is of viral rather than cellular origin is not excluded.

Detection of anti-tumor antibody in virally induced tumors and its relationship to tumor growth

The humoral antibody response to virally induced tumors insyngeneic hosts has been studied. The tumors include an SV40 tumor SVT2, the Friend virus-induced leukemias FBL-3 and FLC; and Moloney sarcoma virus-induced tumors. It was found that antitumor antibodies could be detected by the isotopic antiglobulin technique in these tumor systems at a relatively early stage of tumor growth. The kinetics of the antibody response in relation to the status of tumor growth varied between different tumors. In geneumor growth than in the regressors of tumor-free hosts. Reinoculation of tumor cells or recurrence of tumor growth produced elevation of antibody levels (secondary response). The specificity of the antibody reactions also varied in different tumor systems: some antibodies were truly tumor-specific and thus might produce a biological effect on in vivo tumor immunity, whereas others were not. These studies indicated that a sensitive antibody assay could be used for early detection of tumor growth. However, its usefulness in evaluation of the status of tumor growth should be carefully studied in each tumor system.