Immunization with Inactivated Lactate Dehydrogenase-Elevating Virus Followed by Virus Infection Favors the Selection of Hybridomas Synthesizing Antibodies Cross-Reacting with Intermediate Filaments and the Ldv Envelope Protein VP3

Abstract

Autoantibodies against Golgi antigen and a tumor surface antigen (TSA) of aetiologically unrelated murine cell transformants that develop in immunocompetent mice as early as 6–7 days after treatment with live LDV do not appear after immunization with inactivated virus. However, combination of immunization with inactivated LDV and treatment with live LDV enhances the production of autoantibodies against determinants of intermediate filaments. The basis of the stimulation of this group of autoantibodies is at least in part due to antigenic mimicry between the envelope protein VP3 of LDV and determinants of intermediate filaments, since a panel of monoclonal antibodies cross-reacts with both.

Key Words:

• Lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus
• monoclonal cross-reactive antibodies
• cyto-skeleton