Antibodies to tumor necrosis factor: a component of B cell immune responses with a role in tumor/host interaction.

Infiltrating B lymphocytes are found within tumors, where their role and the antigens they recognize are poorly defined. After in vitro expansion of these cells, we were able to detect the production of antibodies to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) in 13 of 17 human tumors studied. These antibodies were detected by both enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and by neutralization. Anti-TNF antibodies were not produced by resting peripheral blood B cells of normal subjects. However, anti-TNF antibodies were produced by B cells obtained from healthy individuals, after either in vivo or in vitro antigenic stimulation. This suggests that anti-TNF antibody production may constitute part of the overall B cell response to antigens. The intratumoral production of anti-TNF antibody may play a role in tumor/host interactions.