Cellular immunity and production of factora mediating this response (lymphekines) are frequently altered in patients with cancer. These alterations will be more easily quantitated and biochemical analysis of lymphokine production and function will be facilitated by the use of specific anti-lymphokine antibodies. Macrophage agglutination factor (MAggF) is a high molecular weight gelatin-binding lymphokine derived from antigen- or mitogen-stimulated lymphocytes of guinea pigs, mice, or human beings. Because of multiple biochemical and antigenic similarities to fibronectin (FN), we previously proposed that it was a form of this protein. The FNs are a family of proteins involved in cell adhesion and regulation of cell morphology that, while showing some biochemical and functional differences among themselves, are generally closely-related to each other and display binding sites for gelatin, heparin, fibrin(ogen), and fibroblasts. Using monoclonal antibodies directed against plasma FN and a human monocyte receptor for FN, we have demonstrated that human, mouse, and guinea pig activity is associated with the FN gelatin-binding domain, and that MAggF acts on macrophages through a FN receptor antigenically related to the FN receptor on the monocyte. We have now developed a sensitive biotin-streptavidin enzyme immunoassay for MAggF based on existing polyclonal and monoclonal anti-FN antibodies. We are now isolating MAggF from culture supernants by affinity chromatography over gelatin, gel filtration chromatography, and immunoadsorption. Purified MAggF will be compared with purified guinea pig plasma FN and used to raise monoclonal antibodies to assist in deciding if the two materials are truly identical. Anti-MAggF antibodies not cross-reactive with plasma FN will be used to evaluate the role of MAggF in cellular immunity in vivo and in vitro. (HF)
Showing the most recent 10 out of 16 publications
