Three mouse monoclonal antibodies to human differentiation antigens: reactivity with two mucin-like antigens and with connective tissue fibers.

Three human differentiation antigens (MU78, MT334, and MQ49) have been defined by mouse monoclonal antibodies developed from mice immunized with ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Their distribution was determined on 148 cultured cell lines of various histologic types and on frozen sections of 16 normal tissues. MU78 was found in fibrillar structures in soft connective tissue with a distribution resembling that of elastin fibers; however, elastin fibers in elastic cartilage and in the aorta were nonreactive. MU78 was detected in cultured carcinoma cells of various histologic types, where it had a nonfibrillar, cytoplasmic distribution, but was not detected in normal epithelial cells in frozen sections. Cultured fibroblasts, astrocytomas, melanomas, and lymphomas did not contain MU78. In cell lines, MU78 appears to be a protein of 2000-5000 daltons. The other two antigens, MT334 and MQ49, are both mucin-like molecules, and the determinants are probably carbohydrate in nature. Of the normal tissues examined, MT334 was detected only in goblet cells of the colon, though it was present in a variety of carcinomas in culture. It was detected as both a cytoplasmic and secreted component. MQ49 was detected in various secretory epithelial cells, in Hassall's corpuscles in the thymus, and in cultured carcinomas of various histologic types. It was found on the cell surface as well as in the cytoplasm and is present on a glycolipid as well as on a sulfated mucin. These results, and results of other recent studies, demonstrate the importance of mucin-like molecules as antigens in epithelial cells and secretions.