Detection and preliminary characterization of a transmissible agent inducing autoantibody against Golgi-antigen.

A transmissible agent inducing autoantibody has been found in association with tumours induced in STU mice with the progressor strain of Moloney sarcoma virus (Mo-MSV). The activity of the agent detectable in serum from tumour-bearing hosts was expressed by development of autoantibody against Golgi-associated evolutionary conserved antigen (Weiland et al. 1984). This agent was tentatively designated 'AGIA', anti-Golgi inducing agent, on account of its most remarkable biological activity. Concomittant with autoantibodies were cytotoxic antibodies reactive with a Mo-MSV non-producer transformant (Sac). Both antibody activities were regularly detectable 2 weeks after inoculation of the agent. At that time the antibody containing serum possessed an infectivity titre of approximately 10(7.5) ID50/ml. Signs of illness were not observed during this period. The antibody-inducing agent was lost from progressor Mo-MSV transformants during their first passage in culture. Neither murine embryo fibroblasts nor murine tumour cells were permissive for propagation of the agent in vitro.