Class 1 (unique) tumor antigens of human melanoma: identification of unique and common epitopes on a 90-kDa glycoprotein.

Antibodies present in the serum of melanoma patient FD detect an antigenic determinant (FD) restricted to the autologous melanoma cell line SK-MEL-131. This cell-surface determinant is carried on a glycoprotein of 90 kDa, designated gp90. Mice were immunized with a partially purified preparation of gp90 derived from SK-MEL-131 clone 1.5, and three murine hybridomas (KF23, KF26, and KF104) secreting monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) detecting this antigen have been generated. Sequential immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrate that the three mAbs and human FD serum react with the same gp90 species. The mAbs, in contrast to FD serum, react with a broad range of cultured cells in assays for cell-surface antigens and immunoprecipitate a gp90 component from radiolabeled extracts of these cells, including autologous FD B cells. We conclude that gp90 from SK-MEL-131 has two types of determinants: restricted (detected by FD serum) and common (detected by the mouse mAbs). gp90 molecules from cell lines other than SK-MEL-131 carry only the common determinant(s). Immunoperoxidase analysis of frozen tissue sections with mAb KF23 demonstrated a restricted gp90 expression in normal tissues (capillary endothelial cells, duct epithelium in sweat glands, breast, and pancreas). Melanomas and sarcomas showed strong gp90 expression, suggesting up-regulation of gp90 synthesis in certain human cancers.