Specificity of antibodies directed against Env protein of human endogenous retroviruses in patients with germ cell tumors.
case_series · Level IV
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Abstract
We report here that 85% of the patients with germ cell tumors (GCTs) produce antibodies directed against Env protein of human endogenous retroviruses. Individuals that received antitumor treatment showed a decrease with time in their antibody titers. Importantly, of the rare cases of non-GCT individuals with Env-antibodies (n= 15, 0.8%), none produced antibodies directed against the transmembrane domain (TM), whereas all tested Env-positive GCT patients (n= 49) generated such antibodies at high titers. TM is required for Env to be expressed at the cell surface. Thus, anti-TM antibodies constitute highly specific markers for GCT and may hint at a function of Env during tumorigenesis.
Medical subject headings
- Antibodies, Neoplasm
- Antibodies, Viral
- Antigens, Neoplasm
- Gene Products, env
- Germinoma
- Retroviridae
- Testicular Neoplasms