Tumor-associated antigen and cell surface marker in cells of bovine lymphosarcoma.

The detection of tumor-associated antigen and B cell surface marker was attempted in lymphoid cells of peripheral blood (PBL) and lymph nodes obtained from cattle with lymphosarcoma, cattle infected with bovine leukosis virus (BLV), and clinically normal cattle. As a result, specific tumor-associated antigen was found in PBL and lymphoid tumor cells from cattle with the adult form of lymphosarcoma (ALS) using anti-ALS serum. The antigen was also detected in PBL of BLV-infected cattle. A weak reaction for the antigen was found in 2 of 5 cases of calf form. No significant reaction for the tumor-associated antigen of neoplastic lymphoid cells from ALS was found in the thymic and skin forms. The percentage of B cells in PBL and lymph nodes from ALS was higher than that in normal cattle. However, a loss of B cell surface marker was suggested in some ALS cases. A good relation was obtained between an increased B cell percentage and an appearance of the tumor-associated antigen in PBL of BLV-infected cattle. In lymphoid cells of PBL and lymph nodes from sporadic cases, the percentage of B cells was lower than that observed in normal cattle.