Preparation and properties of an antiplasma cell serum directed against a defined plasmacytoma cell population.

ABSTRACT

Heterologous antisera were prepared against a subpopulation of MOPC-104E tumor cells obtained by centrifugation on discontinuous BSA gradients as well as against cells from the whole tumor mass. The gradient-separated cells were more effective than the cells from the whole tumor mass in eliciting antisera not only higher titer, but also with greater specificity for plasmacytoma antigens. The unabsorbed antiserum prepared against the gradient-separated plasmacytoma population was cytotoxic for murine lymphoid cells, but not for murine kidney, liver, or brain cells. After in vitro absorption with murine thymocytes and removal of anti-immunoglobulin activity by affinity chromatography, the antiserum was found to be reactive against plasmacytoma cells, but was no longer cytotoxic for murine thymus or unstimulated spleen cells. This absorbed antiserum was also cytotoxic for LPS-, but not PHA- or Con A-stimulated normal murine spleen cells.