[Studies of anti-lymphocyte antibodies, with special reference to anti-B cell antibodies in choriocarcinoma].

For the purpose of elucidation of the immunologic properties of anti-lymphocyte antibodies which appeared in sera of choriocarcinoma patients, HLA typing of lymphocytes, complement-dependent lymphocytotoxicity test (CT) and mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR)-blocking assay with patients' sera were performed in 7 couples with the disease. The results obtained were as follows: HLA distribution characteristic of patients and their husbands was not observed. In 3 of 7 patients, their sera exhibited positive CT to their husband's lymphocyte. In MLR-blocking assay, a significant blocking effects (BE) with sera were detected in all patients. The serum BE tended to be sustained for 4 to 8 months even after the decline of serum beta-hCG into the negative range. It was also observed that a case in whom the BE was positive for a longer period of time in a state of remission eventually underwent recurrence. It was demonstrated that the BE and MLR was induced by serum IgG antibodies closely associated with surface antigens of the husband's B-lymphocyte. Consequently, it was strongly suggested that serum anti-lymphocyte antibodies immunologically reflect the tumour burden in choriocarcinoma patients.