Radiolabeled fragments of monoclonal antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen for localization of human colon carcinoma grafted into nude mice.

Four monoclonal antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) have been selected from 32 hybrids that produce antibodies against this antigen, by the criteria of high affinity for CEA and low cross-reactivity with granulocyte glycoprotein(s). The specificity of tumor localization in vivo of the four MAb, and their F(ab')2 and Fab fragments was compared in nude mice bearing grafts of a serially transplanted, CEA-producing, human colon carcinoma. The distribution of radiolabeled MAb and their fragments after intravenous injection was analyzed by direct measurement of radioactivity in tumor and normal organs, as well as by whole-body scanning and by autoradiography of tumor sections. Paired labeling experiments, in which 131I-labeled antibody or fragments and 125I-labeled control IgG are injected simultaneously, were undertaken to determine the relative tumor uptakes of each labeled protein. The tumor antibody uptake divided by that of control IgG defines the specificity index of localization. Tumor antibody uptakes (as compared with the whole mouse), ranging between 7 and 15, and specificity indices ranging between 3.4 and 6.8, were obtained with the four intact MAb at day 4-5 after injection. With F(ab')2 fragments of the four MAb, at day 3, the tumor antibody uptakes ranged between 12 and 24 and the specificity indices between 5.3 and 8.2. With the Fab fragments prepared from the two most promising MAb, the antibody uptakes reached values of 34 and 82 at day 2-3 and the specificity indices were as high as 12 and 19. The scanning results paralleled those obtained by direct measurement of radioactivity. With intact MAb, tumor grafts of 0.5-1 g gave very contrasted positive scans 3 d after injection. Using MAb fragments, tumors of smaller size were detectable earlier. The best results were obtained with Fab fragments of MAb 35, which gave clear detections of tumors weighing only 0.1 g as early as 48 h after injection. Autoradiographs of tumor sections from mice injected with 125I-labeled MAb demonstrated that the radioactivity was localized in the tumor tissues and not in the stromal connective tissue of mouse origin. The highest radioactivity concentration was localized in areas known to contain CEA such as the pseudolumen of glands and the apical side of carcinoma cells. The penetration of radioactivity in the central part of tumor nodules and the pseudolumen appeared to be increased with the use of MAb fragments.

Ablation of human colon carcinoma in nude mice by 131I-labeled monoclonal anti-carcinoembryonic antigen antibody F(ab')2 fragments.

Pooled F(ab')2 fragments of three MAbs against distinct epitopes of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) were used for radioimmunotherapy of nude mice bearing a subcutaneous human colon carcinoma xenograft. 9-10 d after transplantation when tumor nodules were in exponential growth, 36 mice were treated by intravenous injection of different amounts of 131I-labeled MAb F(ab')2. All 14 mice injected with a single dose of 2,200 (n = 10) or 2,800 microCi (n = 4) showed complete tumor remission. 8 of the 10 mice treated with 2,200 microCi survived in good health for 1 yr when they were killed and shown to be tumor free. Four of nine other mice treated with four fractionated doses of 400 microCi showed no tumor relapse for more than 9 mo. In contrast, all 15 mice injected with 1,600-3,000 microCi 131I-control IgG F(ab')2 showed tumor growth retardation of only 1-4 wk, and 15 of 16 mice injected with unlabeled anti-CEA MAb F(ab')2 showed unmodified tumor progression as compared with untreated mice. From tissue radioactivity distributions it was calculated that by an injection of 2,200 microCi 131I-MAb F(ab')2 a mean dose of 8,335 rad was selectively delivered to the tumor, while the tissue-absorbed radiation doses for the normal organs were: peripheral blood, 2,093; stomach, 1,668; kidney, 1,289; lung, 1,185; liver, 617; spleen, 501; small intestine, 427; large intestine, 367; bone, 337; and muscle, 198. These treatments were well tolerated since out of 19 mice with complete tumor remission only 4 required bone marrow transplantation and 17 were in good health for 6-12 mo of observation. The results demonstrate the selective destruction of established human colon carcinoma transplants by intravenous injection of either single or fractionated doses of 131I-MAb F(ab')2.

Swine monoclonal antibodies of high affinity and specificity to carcinoembryonic antigen.

To avoid the exclusive use of rodent monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) in patients for the detection of tumors by immunoscintigraphy and for radioimmunotherapy, swine MAbs were produced that are directed against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). Spleen cells from 2 pigs immunized with purified colon carcinoma CEA were fused with a nonsecreting mouse myeloma cell line by conventional methods, except that a particularly long immunization protocol and large amounts of spleen and myeloma cells were used. Of 1,200 growing hybrids tested, 20 were found initially to produce antibodies binding to radiolabeled CEA. Seven stable clones producing anti-CEA MAbs for more than 6 months were derived from these hybrids by repeated subcloning. The pig origin of the seven MAbs was demonstrated in a solid-phase CEA enzyme immunoassay where anti-pig immunoglobin (Ig) antibodies coupled to peroxidase gave a positive reaction while anti-mouse Ig antibodies were entirely negative. All swine MAbs were of the IgG isotype. Three anti-CEA MAbs showed no cross-reactivity with granulocytes, while four others gave various degrees of reactivity with different granulocyte glycoproteins. Competitive binding to CEA performed for two purified swine MAbs showed that they recognized two different epitopes. The affinity constants measured for these two MAbs by Scatchard plot on purified CEA were high (1.2 X 10(9) and 1.2 X 10(10) liter/mol). One of the MAbs was tested in vivo for tumor localization by injection, after radiolabeling, in nude mice bearing human colon carcinoma xenograft. High ratios of tumor to normal tissue were obtained with mean values of 10.5 for intact MAbs and of 26.8 for F(ab')2 fragments of the porcine MAb. The results showed that heterofusion with this particular protocol can be used to produce swine MAbs of high affinity and specificity for a well-defined tumor marker. These reagents may have an important clinical utility, particularly in patients who became sensitized to mouse immunoglobulins.

Penetration and binding of radiolabeled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen monoclonal antibodies and their antigen binding fragments in human colon multicellular tumor spheroids.

The binding and penetration of two 125I-labeled anti-carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) monoclonal antibodies (MAb) and their F(ab')2 and Fab fragments were measured in multicellular spheroids of poorly (HT29) and moderately well differentiated (Co112) human colon adenocarcinomas which express different amounts of CEA. Spheroids cultured in vitro model tumor microenvironments where poor vascular supply may modulate antigen expression and accessibility. The two MAb studied, 202 and 35, were shown previously to react with different CEA epitopes and to have high affinities of 1.2 and 5.8 X 10(9) M-1, respectively. MAb 202 has also been shown to cross-react with antigens present on human granulocytes and normal epithelial cells from human lung and pancreas. Specific binding of intact MAb and fragments of both antibodies was demonstrated for both types of human colon carcinoma spheroids compared to mouse colon carcinoma (CL26) and mammary tumor (EMT6/Ro) spheroids. Total binding of MAb and fragments was greater (1.5- to 2.5-fold) after 4 h compared to 1 h of exposure; the amount of binding compared to control IgG1 was 5- to 30-fold greater after 1-h incubation and 15 to 200 times greater after 4 h. This binding was stable as demonstrated by short and long wash experiments at 37 degrees and 4 degrees C. The binding of F(ab')2 and Fab fragments of the anti-CEA MAb 35 to spheroids of human colon Co112 was almost 2-fold greater than that of the intact MAb. However, for MAb 202, the binding of intact MAb and F(ab')2 was greater than that of Fab fragments. In addition the binding of both intact and F(ab')2 fragments of MAb 202 was greater than that obtained with MAb 35. Specific binding of both antibodies to HT29 spheroids, which express less CEA, was decreased for MAb and fragments of both 202 and 35. Autoradiography and immunoperoxidase experiments were performed to determine the penetration of MAb and fragments after incubation with intact spheroids. Comparisons were made with labeled MAb directly applied to frozen sections of spheroids. F(ab')2 and Fab fragments of both antibodies were bound at the surface of intact spheroids and penetrated to eight to ten cells, but the intact MAb were localized mainly at the spheroid surface and the outer one to three cell layers. There was much less binding at the surfaces of HT29 compared to Co112 spheroids. An enzyme immunoassay using MAb 35 and 202 demonstrated that Co112 spheroids produced about 8-fold more CEA/mg of cell protein than did monolayer cultures.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Monoclonal antibodies to carcinoembryonic antigen: ionic strength as a factor in the selection of antibodies for immunoscintigraphy.

As part of an ongoing effort to improve the technique of immunoscintigraphy for the detection of human carcinomas with radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies (MABs) to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), we have developed a series of MABs to CEA and have studied the effects of low- and physiological molarity buffers on their CEA binding and affinity, as well as their cross-reactivity with granulocyte glycoprotein(s). These in vitro results in different buffer systems were then correlated with the use of these MABs to CEA in the detection of human colon carcinoma grafts in nude mice. Our results show that the binding of CEA by some MABs is influenced by ionic strength and that this may be an important factor in their successful use for the immunolocalization of carcinomas in vivo.

Specificity and affinity of monoclonal antibodies against carcinoembryonic antigen.

The binding specificities of 52 well-characterized monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) from 12 different research groups were studied by immunohistochemistry and immuno flow cytometry. In addition, the binding constant for the interaction between Mab and CEA was determined by a solution-phase assay. Cryostat sections of colon carcinoma and normal colon, stomach, liver, pancreas, and spleen were studied by immunohistochemistry. Peripheral blood granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes were assayed by immuno flow cytometry. The Mabs used here have previously been classified into five essentially nonoverlapping epitope groups (GOLD 1-5) (Cancer Res., 49: 4852-4858, 1989). Most Mabs cross-reacted with different normal tissues, ranging from highly cross-reactive Mabs (positive reaction with 8 of 9 discriminating tissues) to relatively specific Mabs (positive reaction with 1 of 9 discriminating tissues). Five Mabs (10%) were specific, reacting only with colon carcinoma, normal colon mucosa, and normal gastric foveola. There was a correlation between epitope group and binding specificity. Mabs with a high degree of CEA specificity almost exclusively belonged to epitope groups 1, 2, and 3, while highly cross-reactive Mabs belonged to epitope groups 4 and 5. There was no correlation between antibody specificity and affinity for CEA. Specific Mabs with high as well as low affinity were found.

Monoclonal antibody against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) identifies two new forms of crossreacting antigens of molecular weight 90,000 and 160,000 in normal granulocytes.

Two new forms of non-specific crossreacting antigens (NCAs) were identified in the Nonidet P40 (NP-40) extracts of normal granulocytes by precipitation with the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 192 directed against carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and already known to crossreact with the perchloric acid soluble NCA-55. The NP-40 soluble NCAs recognized by MAb 192 have apparent mol. wts of 90,000 and 160,000 in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Both NCAs appear to consist of a single monomeric polypeptide chain, since they have the same electrophoretic mobility in SDS-PAGE under reduced and non-reduced conditions. When granulocytes were extracted with perchloric acid instead of NP-40, only the 55,000 mol. wt antigen, corresponding to the previously described NCA-55, was precipitated by MAb 192. Furthermore, it was shown that NCA-55 is not a degradation product of NCA-90 or NCA-160 due to the perchloric acid treatment because exposure to perchloric acid of NCA preparations purified from NP-40 extracts did not change their apparent mol. wts in SDS-PAGE. It was also shown that NCA-160 is not a granulocytic form of CEA because it was not precipitated by the MAb 35 reacting exclusively with CEA. Immunocytochemical studies of granulocytes and macrophages showed that MAb 192 stained both types of cells whereas MAb 47 stained only the granulocytes and MAb 35 none of these cells. In granulocytes both MAbs reacted with antigens associated with granules and also present at the periphery of the nucleus as well as in the Golgi apparatus. The NCA-90 identified by MAb 192 was found by sequential immunodepletion to be antigenically distinct from the NCA-95 precipitated by MAb 47. The epitope recognized by MAb 192 on CEA and NCA molecules appears to be on the peptidic moiety because the antigens deglycosylated by the enzyme Endo F were still precipitated by this MAb. Taken together, the results indicate that MAb 192 identifies two novel forms of NCA (NCA-90 and NCA-160) in NP-40 extracts of granulocytes, which are distinct from CEA and the previously described NCA-55 and NCA-95 identified by MAbs 192 and 47, respectively, in perchloric acid extracts of granulocytes.

Production and characterization of a rat monoclonal antibody against the murine CD3 molecular complex.

We describe the production of a rat monoclonal antibody, 17A2, that detects the T cell receptor-associated CD3 molecular complex. 17A2 cross-competes with a CD3 epsilon-specific reagent and similarly stimulates IL-2 production by T cells. Immunohistological and cell separation applications are shown.

Expression of CALLA/CD10 on human melanoma cells.

The reactivity spectrum of an anti-CALLA/CD10 monoclonal antibody for cutaneous melanoma was analysed by immunohistochemistry in a series of lesions of different Breslow thickness. Similar proportions of small primary tumours, advanced primary tumours and metastatic lesions were found to express CALLA/CD10 (31-47%). However the proportion of stained cells within a given lesion increased with tumour progression. Up to 23% of the advanced primary lesions (> 3.0 mm) showed 26-50% cells stained with the anti-CALLA/CD10 antibody and up to 14% of the metastatic lesions showed 76-100% stained cells. The expression of CALLA/CD10 was further analysed in 15 ocular melanoma lesions of different histiotype. All five spindle type lesions, three of six epitheloid and two of five mixed type lesions stained positively with the anti-CALLA/CD10 antibody. The percentage of stained cells within a given lesion varied from 30% to 100%. A total of 63% of the ocular melanomas and 38% of the cutaneous melanomas tested expressed CALLA/CD10. Experiments with cultured melanoma cell lines showed that the surface expression of CALLA/CD10 can be modulated in vitro by treatment with interleukin 2 (IL-2) and an adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (analogue).

Surface antigenic profile of uveal melanoma lesions analysed with a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against cutaneous melanoma.

The surface antigenic profile of 10 surgically removed uveal melanoma lesions and 5 conjunctival melanomas was analyzed with a panel of 22 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) raised against membrane bound cutaneous melanoma-associated antigens (MAA). In addition these lesions were tested for their reactivity with mAbs against MHC class I and II molecules, CD7 (Pan-T) and CD10 (CALLA). The anti-MAA mAbs can be divided into two major groups: first those mAbs detecting markers expressed by the majority of uveal melanomas such as NKI-Beteb, NKI/C3, G7E2, M-2-2-4, Mel-14, G7A5, AMF6, AMF7, Pal M1, Pal M2, Me14/D12. The staining intensity for these mAbs was rather high, ranging in intensity between 70 and 100%. The second group of antibodies includes mAbs detecting markers not or very poorly expressed on ocular melanomas. The anti-ICAM-1 mAb P358 did not react with any of the lesions tested and mAb Muc18 and Muc54 only with one and two out of 15 lesions, respectively. The majority of spindle lesions and mixed type lesions and half of the epitheloid type lesions expressed HLA class I molecules, while HLA class II molecules were found on half of the spindle and epitheloid type lesions and on a small number of mixed cell type lesions. All spindle lesions were found to express the CD10 (CALLA) molecule and less than half of the other type of lesions were stained with an anti CD10 mAb. The melanoma associated ganglioside GD3 was mainly expressed on epitheloid type lesions while GD2 was predominantly expressed on mixed type lesions. In essence, the overall surface phenotype of the uveal melanoma lesions tested, as defined by the panel of mAbs used, differs markedly from the surface phenotype of cutaneous melanoma lesions defined by a very similar antibody panel.

Expression of IL-2 receptors in human melanoma cells.

Melanoma cells can secrete several cytokines and express various cell surface molecules, such as the intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM-1, class II histocompatibility antigens, and the CALLA antigen, typically found in cells of the immune system. We have investigated the possible expression of interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptors in melanoma using monoclonal antibodies specific for the p55/alpha chain (TAC antigen) and the p75/beta subunit. Flow cytometric analysis of cultured melanoma cells showed the presence of low levels of the TAC antigen and of the beta chain on the surface of several cell lines. Similar results were obtained in vivo by immunohistochemistry on cryosections prepared from cutaneous and ocular melanoma explants. Positive staining was observed for the alpha chain of the IL-2 receptor in a high percentage of tumour cells. The beta chain could also be detected, although in a limited number of specimens. Analysis of RNA from melanoma cell lines by Northern blot showed the presence of typical 4 Kb transcripts for the p75 subunit, while low-abundance message for the p55 chain could be detected using combined reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction analysis. Together, these results suggest that melanoma cells may express high affinity receptors for IL-2.

In vitro and in vivo tumor models for studies of distribution of radiolabelled monoclonal antibodies and fragments.

Colon carcinoma multicellular spheroids were incubated in vitro with radiolabelled MAbs. The more rapid penetration of fragments as compared to intact MAbs was clearly demonstrated. For the study of antibody localization in tumors in vivo, the model of nude mice with ligated kidneys was used. Although very artificial, this model allowed to demonstrate that, without urinary excretion, Fab fragments accumulated more rapidly into the tumor than intact MAbs and disappeared faster from the blood. This difference was less striking for F(ab')2 fragments. In the liver a decreased accumulation of both types of fragments as compared to intact MAbs was observed. Concerning radioimmunotherapy we think that Fab fragments are not useful because of their too short half-life in the circulation and in tumor and because they will probably be too toxic for the kidneys. Intact MAbs and F(ab')2 fragments have each their advantages. Intact MAbs show highest tumor accumulation in mice without ligated kidney, however, they remain mostly on the periphery of tumor nodules, as shown by autoradiography. F(ab')2 fragments have been found to penetrate deeper into the tumor and to accumulate less in the liver. It might be therefore an advantage to combine intact MAbs with F(ab')2 fragments, so that in the tumor two different regions could be attacked whereas in normal tissues toxicity could be distributed to different organs such as to the liver with intact MAbs and to the kidney with F(ab')2 fragments.

Reactivity spectrum of 30 monoclonal antimelanoma antibodies to a panel of 28 melanoma and control cell lines.

Thirty monoclonal antibodies from eight laboratories exchanged after the First Workshop on Monoclonal Antibodies to Human Melanoma held in March 1981 at NIH were tested in an antibody-binding radioimmunoassay using a panel of 28 different cell lines. This panel included 12 melanomas, three neuroblastomas, four gliomas, one retinoblastoma, four colon carcinomas, one lung carcinoma, one cervical carcinoma, one endometrial carcinoma, and one breast carcinoma. The reactivity pattern of the 30 monoclonal antibodies tested showed that none of them were directed against antigens strictly restricted to melanoma, but that several of them recognize antigenic structures preferentially expressed on melanoma cells. A large number of antibodies were found to crossreact with gliomas and neuroblastomas. Thus, they seem to recognize neuroectoderm associated differentiation antigens. Four monoclonal antibodies produced in our laboratory were further studied for the immunohistological localization of melanoma associated antigens on fresh tumor material. In a three-layer biotin-avidin-peroxidase system each antibody showed a different staining pattern with the tumor cells, suggesting that they were directed against different antigens.

[Cerebrovascular disorders in the fascicular block picture on the electrocardiogram]. / Hirndurchblutungsstörungen bei faszikulären Blockbildern im Elektrokardiogramm.

3894 ECG of neuropsychiatric patients were investigated for mono- and bifascicular blocks and the charts taken out for closer examination. Within this group of patients, the percentage of cerebral circulatory disturbances proved to be significantly increased. Among 97 patients there were 15 suffering from syncopal attacks. These attacks seem to be caused by intermittent occurrence of a trifascicular block. In a randomized control group of 50 patients not a single syncopal attack was found. The risk for a patient to develop syncopal attacks is correlated to the advancing degree of blockage in the ECG. When an intermittent trifascicular block is detected in a patient suffering from syncopal attacks, an electric pacemaker should be implanted.

[Orbital pulse analyses in healthy subjects and patients with cerebral arteriosclerosis]. / Orbiapulsanalysen bei Gefässgesunden und Patienten mit Hirnarteriosklerose

81 normotensive persons were examined with the ophthalmodyamographic method. The measuring device was fixed with a constant, hypodiastolic pressure, and orbital volume pulses were registered and analysed according to qualitative and quantitative pulse criteria. Pulse criteria of younger persons were compared to those of older patients, pulses of persons with a normal vascular system were compared to pulses of persons suffering from cerebral vascular sclerosis. The most important results can be summarized as follows: 1. In old age pulses with arciform ascent or deep-seated anacrotic inflection are found more often. 2. The applanation of the dicrotic wave is seen more often in older patients and most often in patients with cerebral arteriosclerosis. Yet it is not specific for regressive changes of the arterial wall. 3. Pulses of the peripheral type with decrement of the incisura are found more often in younger persons with unimpaired blood vessels, presumably because of the more viscous-plastic properties of the vascular wall. 4. The quotient of dicrotism increases in old age. 5. The mean value of pulse wave transmission time, as a rule, diminishes in older persons, but non-hypertensive patients with cerebral arteriosclerosis have an increased pulse wave transmission time when compared to persons of the same age group without vascular changes. 6. Concerning the diagnostic value of differences between left and right it is important to notice that physiological differences of pulse criteria are considerable as far as amplitudes and height of discrotism are concerned; they are less prominent as to the period of rapid ejection (time between beginning of steep ascent and primary peak) and practivally below the measurable range as to semi-amplitude time (time that passes until half of the maximum amplitude is reached) and pulse wave transmission time. That means: measurable differences in regard to semi-amplitude time or pulse wave transmission time are reliable diagnostic criteria whereas differences in amplitudes and height of discrotism may bring false positive results.

Immunohistochemical localization of host and donor-derived cells in the regenerating thymus of radiation bone marrow chimeras.

The anatomical distribution of CBA (Thy-1.2) host and AKR (Thy-1.1) donor-derived cells in the regenerating thymus of AKR----CBA radiation bone marrow chimeras was investigated. Cryostat sections of chimeric thymuses were incubated with biotin-conjugated monoclonal anti-Thy-1 antibodies specific for host and donor-derived cells and the distribution of the corresponding Thy-1 antigen revealed by the immunoperoxidase staining technique. The thymus was initially repopulated by Thy-1.2+ host-derived cells, but by 28 days following bone marrow reconstitution the few remaining host cells were found mostly in the thymus medulla. However, occasional Thy-1.2+ cells were still present in extramedullary, primarily cortical, sites. Donor-derived (Thy-1.1+) cells were first seen in the 11-day chimeric thymus as single cells frequently closely associated with blood vessels in medullary areas. By 17 days, the cortex contained many Thy-1.1+ cells, although occasional single positive cells were still present in the medulla. Changes in the anatomical distribution of host and donor-derived cells in the regenerating chimeric thymus appeared to correlate with changes in their Thy-1 fluorescence profile as determined by flow microfluorometry.

[Public social assistance amounts for the aged]. / Die Höhe der öffentlichen Sozialausgaben für alte Menschen.

This article concerns with the question: which part of public social security expenditures is paid for the elderly population? Hereby we calculated on the dates of 1976 of the "Sozialbericht 1978" the share of payments for those people, which are 60 years and older. So we get a specific quota of "old-age public charge". This quota was in 1976 45.72% of the whole expenditures for social security in the Federal Republic of Germany or 147,039 Mill. DM. This is equivalent with 13% of the gross national product (GNP). This result has however a lack of ability for forecasting the future public social security expenditures because of numerous speculative conditions, which would have to be taken into account.

Cyclic AMP induces differentiation in vitro of human melanoma cells.

Treating human melanoma lines with dibutyryl adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (dbc AMP) resulted in morphologic changes associated with the altered expression of cell surface antigens. After treatment, cells developed long cellular projections characteristic of mature melanocytes and showed the presence of an increased number of Stage II premelanosomes. In addition, induction of melanin synthesis, detected as brown perinuclear pigmentation, was observed. The AMP further drastically reduced the growth rate of the five melanoma cell lines that were tested. The influence of dbc AMP was completely reversible 3 days after the agent was removed from the culture medium. The antigenic phenotype of the melanoma lines was compared before and after dbc AMP treatment. This was done with four monoclonal antibodies directed against major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I and II antigens and 11 monoclonal antibodies defining eight different melanoma-associated antigenic systems. Treatment with dbc AMP reduced the expression of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-ABC antigens and beta-2-microglobulin in five of five melanoma lines. In the two HLA-DR-positive cell lines dbc AMP reduced the expression of this antigen in one line and enhanced it in the other. No induction of HLA-DR or HLA-DC antigens was observed in the Class II negative cell lines. Furthermore, dbc-AMP modulated the expression of the majority of the melanoma antigenic systems tested. The expression of a 90-kilodalton (KD) antigen, which has been found to be upregulated by interferon-gamma, was markedly decreased in all the five cell lines. A similar decrease in the expression of the high molecular weight proteoglycan-associated antigen (220-240 KD) was observed. The reduced expression of Class I and II MHC antigens as well as the altered expression of the melanoma-associated antigens studied were shown to be reversible after dbc AMP was removed. Our results collectively show that the monoclonal antibody-defined melanoma-associated molecules are linked to differentiation. They could provide useful tools for monitoring the maturation of melanomas in vivo induced by chemical agents or natural components favoring differentiation.