Immunological Characteristics of the Diethylstibestrol-Induced Kidney

Immunological study of diethylstibestrol-induced kidney carcinoma of golden Syrian hamster was performed focussing on its antigenic difference from normal kidney, using techiques of gel diffusion, immunoelectrophoresis, immunoluorescence and disc-electrophoresis. In agreement with the results reported by Weiler and other investigators, the present results indicated that some of the antigens existing in the brush border and cytoplasm of proximal tubules were lost during neoplastic transformation. However, several additional findings that have not been mentioned by these investigators were obtained : 1) A new antigen appeared in the kidney carcinoma which differed from, but cross-reacted with, a normal kidney antigen. 2) It existed on the surface of the tumor cells and in the interstitium of the tumor. 3) Normal kidney had haptens that reacted with some of anti-tumor antibodies. 4) Likewise, the kidney carcinoma had a hapten that reacted with a certain anti-kidney antibody. 5) Disc-electrophoresis disclosed that a large fraction of soluble proteins of normal kifney was deleted in the kidney carcinoma.