HUMAN CELL SURFACE ANTIGENS: TRANSFERRIN RECEPTORS

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Monoclonal antibodies have been used in earlier studies in this laboratory to identify and characterize the transferrin receptors of human and murine cells. Transferrin receptors are associated with active cell growth and are selectively expressed on some tumors in vivo. Monoclonal antibodies have been obtained that block receptor function and inhibit tumor cell growth in vitro. This work is being developed in two directions. The human transferrin receptor gene has been isolated and can be expressed in the appropriate cell type. Efforts are underway to use oligonucleotide site-directed mutagenesis E to study the structure-function relationship of the human transferrin receptor. The other aspect of the project is to investigate the effects of monoclonal antibodies that block transferrin receptor function on the growth of tumor cells in vivo. In the past year, it has been shown that a rat IgM monoclonal antibody against the murine transferrin receptor can inhibit the growth of a syngeneic leukemia, SL-2, in AKR/J mice. Both inhibition of growth of the primary subcutaneous tumor and prolonged survival of tumor-bearing mice were demonstrated. There was no evidence of toxicity associated with administration of the antibody. The distribution of transferrin receptors on murine hematopoietic stem cells has also been investigated. (CS)