Characterization of Surface Antigen on Cells Infected by Fibroma Virus

[摘要] Cells infected with fibroma virus developed a surface antigen which could be detected by immunofluorescence. Sera from rabbits with regressed fibroma-induced tumors reacted with the surface of viable fibroma-infected cells, but not with cells infected with vaccinia virus or herpesvirus. Serum prepared against vaccinia virus, herpesvirus, SV40 virus and rabbit papilloma virus failed to react with fibroma-infected cells. The surface antigen appeared to be a late antigen and was dependent upon viral DNA synthesis. The antibody reaction was not to intact virions attached to the cell surface. The antigen persisted in association with the cell membrane long after infectious virus had decreased to low levels. A temporal relationship existed between the surface antigen measured by the fluorescent antibody technique and the antigen measured by the macrophage migration-inhibition test. Antibody reactive against the surface antigen developed in rabbits with growing fibromas and the antibody titer increased as the tumors regressed. The possible role of cell-mediated and humoral immune responses against this membrane-associated antigen in tumor regression is discussed.

[学科分类] 生物科学（综合）