Hodgkin and sternberg-reed cell antigen(s) detected by an antiserum to a cell line (L428) derived from Hodgkin's disease.

Antisera to the cell line L428, derived from Hodgkin's disease, were raised in rabbits by injecting L428 cells intravenously and subcutaneously. The anti-L428 cell serum that did not react with HLA-DR was absorbed with tonsil cell plus acute myeloid leukemia cells or tonsil cells plus neutrophils, monocytes, and blood lymphocytes. Then it was tested for its ability to discriminate between L428 cells, Hodgkin and Sternberg-Reed cells, and various other cells. It was found that the anti L428 cell serum absorbed with tonsil cells plus acute myeloid leukemia cells stained only L428 cells, Hodgkin and Sternberg-Reed cells, and neutrophils. The anti L428 cell serum absorbed with tonsil cell plus neutrophils, monocytes, and blood lymphocytes reacted with L428 cells and Hodgkin and sternberg-Reed cells from 13 cases of Hodgkin's disease. It did not react with any other cell type present in the blood or in lymphoid tissue or with cells from five cases of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The absorbed anti-L428 cell serum also failed to stain Daudi and HRIK cell line cells. We conclude that the anti-L428 cell serum defines an antigen that is apparently restricted in expression to L428 cells and Hodgkin and Sternberg-Reed cells. This is a strong indication that the L428 cell line cells are derived from Hodgkin and Sternberg-Reed cells.