Cryptic cold agglutinin activity of monoclonal macroglobulins.

One hundred and twenty sera with monoclonal immunoglobulin M's (IgM's) were tested for cryptic cold agglutinin activity against papain- and neuraminidase-treated adult and cord red blood cells (RBC). Fifteen sera (12.5%) agglutinated papain-treated RBC. Fourteen of these 15 sera also agglutinated neuraminidase-treated RBC. Ten additional sera agglutinated neuraminidase-treated but not papain-treated cells. Three patterns were observed among agglutinators of papain-treated RBC: either predominant agglutination of adult RBC, or of cord RBC or equal reaction, thus resembling I, i and non-Ii patterns of conventional cold agglutinins. We propose to call these patterns, tentatively, Icr (cr for cryptic), icr, and non-Iicr, respectively. Purified monoclonal IgM's retained the above patterns. Eluates from enzyme-treated cells contained monoclonal IgM's. Investigation of neuraminidase-treated RBC has shown that in distinction to T-anti-T system (Thomsen-Friedenreich receptor system), the majority of sera with monoclonal IgM's agglutinated more strongly adult RBC, and some agglutinated more strongly cord RBC. There was no loss of agglutinating activity after repeat freezing and thawing of the sera. Thus, it seems that monoclonal IgM's which react with neuraminidase-treated RBC detect antigenic determinants different from the T antigen. Cryptic CA activity of IgM's should be added to the list of antibody activities of these monoclonal immunoglobulins.