Immunochemical studies of organ and tumor lipids. XIX. Cytolytic action of antibodies directed against cytolipin R.

Rabbit antisera to rat lymphosarcoma contain antibodies that are cytolytic for rat erythrocytes in the presence of complement. The reaction can be inhibited completely by pure cytolipin R showing that (a) immune hemolysis can be mediated through lipid determinants in the membrane, and (b) that cytolipin R determinants are present in the intact erythrocyte membrane and exposed on the surface. Optimal conditions for measurement of cytolysis in this system based on release of (51)Cr are described. Degrees of specificity of a number of different antilymphosarcoma sera are shown, based on inhibition of cytolysis by cytolipin R, cytolipin K, cytolipin H, cytolipin F (F-hapten), glucocerebroside, galactocerebroside, ceramide trisaccharide (cer-glu-gal-gal), and a mixed brain ganglioside preparation. The data suggest that cytolytic antibodies and agglutinating antibodies in these antisera are distinctive despite their common specificity for cytolipin R. Lymphosarcoma cells are more effective than erythrocytes in absorbing cytolytic antibodies.