Alpha-Fetoprotein Subtractions in Germ Cell Tumors Identified by Con A or LCH Crossed-Line Affinity Immunoelectrophoresis

ABSTRACT: Using concanavalin A (Con A) crossed-line affinity immunoelectrophoresis and lentil lectin (LCH) crossed-line affinity immunoelectrophoresis, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) subfractions were studied in sera including three sera from nude mice heterotran-splanted with human yolk sac tumor of the ovary and three sera from patients with yolk sac tumor, mature solid teratoma, or immature solid teratoma of the ovary. In sera of nude mice bearing yolk sac tumor or from a patient with yolk sac tumor, subfractions from yolk sac and those from fetal liver were identified. Since AFP subfractions from yolk sac and fetal liver can be differentiated according to the carbohydrate moieties, our findings indicate that AFP produced by yolk sac tumor and fetal yolk sac are to some extent differently glycosylated. We also found that AFP in both mature and immature solid teratoma was composed of two subfractions ontogenetically originating from yolk sac or fetal liver. All these findings indicate that more than two different factors are responsible for the AFP synthesis in germ cell tumor of the ovary.     

Crossed Immunoelectrophoresis

Synonym— Laurell antigen-antibody crossed electrophoresis (82) ad modum Clarke & Freeman (29).     

Rocket Immunoelectrophoresis

Synonyms: —antigen electrophoresis in antibody-containing agarose gel (84)
—electroimmuno assay (85).     

Immunoelectrophoresis of poliovirus antigens

Summary The electrophoretic migration of the antigens of six poliovirus strains was studied by immunoelectrophoresis in agarose gel at pH 8.2 and pH 7.0. Differences in migration were observed: the H antigens migrated faster than the corresponding N antigens. A small variation in migration between different poliovirus types was observed; also intratypic variation was noted (most pronounced between poliovirus type 1 strains Brunhilde and Chat). All antigens were negatively charged at pH 8.2 and 7.0, except the Brunhilde N antigen at pH 7.0. This antigen had a slight positive charge at this pH, suggesting an isoelectric point just above 7.0 under the conditions tested.