BACKGROUND: We previously reported that a Q5 gene product (Q5 antigen) on the surface of tumor cells caused humoral immune reaction in syngeneic tumor-bearing mice. Transcripts of the Q5 gene were observed in various tumor cells. The human counterpart of the Q5 gene has not been clarified yet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transcripts of human class Ib genes in various human tumor cell lines were analyzed by the RT-PCR method. Whether anti-HLA-F antibodies were present in sera from cancer patients was investigated through Western blotting with recombinant HLA-F as an antigen. RESULTS: Transcripts of the HLA-F gene were produced by various tumor cell lines. In addition, anti-HLA-F IgG was present in the sera derived from various types of cancer patients (26 positives / 42 tested), but not in the sera derived from healthy donors (0 / 20). CONCLUSION: Anti-HLA-F antibodies should be further investigated as possible diagnostic tumor markers.
BACKGROUND: We previously reported that a Q5 gene product (Q5 antigen) on the surface of tumor cells caused humoral immune reaction in syngeneic tumor-bearing mice. Transcripts of the Q5 gene were observed in various tumor cells. The human counterpart of the Q5 gene has not been clarified yet. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Transcripts of human class Ib genes in various humantumor cell lines were analyzed by the RT-PCR method. Whether anti-HLA-F antibodies were present in sera from cancerpatients was investigated through Western blotting with recombinant HLA-F as an antigen. RESULTS: Transcripts of the HLA-F gene were produced by various tumor cell lines. In addition, anti-HLA-F IgG was present in the sera derived from various types of cancerpatients (26 positives / 42 tested), but not in the sera derived from healthy donors (0 / 20). CONCLUSION: Anti-HLA-F antibodies should be further investigated as possible diagnostic tumor markers.
Authors: Maddalena Marchesi; Emilia Andersson; Lisa Villabona; Barbara Seliger; Andreas Lundqvist; Rolf Kiessling; Giuseppe V Masucci Journal: J Transl Med Date: 2013-10-06 Impact factor: 5.531