Cytotoxic Antibody in Burkitt's Tumor and Normal Human Serum Reactive with Cultures of Lymphoid Cells

Abstract

Human serum antibodies that react with a variety of human lymphoid cultures were detected by use of a complement-dependent cytotoxicity test. Cytotoxic antibody was detected in the sera of patients with Burkitt''s lymphoma and also in sera from normal individuals. Positive reactions occurred with cell lines derived from the leukocytes of normal adults and with cell lines that lack detectable herpes-like virus. This serum antibody is probably not tumor-specific or herpes virus-specific. The cell antigen is not associated with known leukocyte isoantigens and the available evidence indicates that this antibody reflects a separate anti-genic identity in human cells.