IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO CYCLIN B1 IN HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

Proteins expressed by plasmids encoding human cyclins and cyclin-depen dent kinase 2 (CDK2) were used as antigens in immunoblotting. Fifteen of 100 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were found to have autoantibodies reactive with cyclin B1 and with a 40-kd degradation p roduct of cyclin B1-glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. On ly one serum was found to react with cyclin A and another single serum with CDK2 but no antibodies were detected to cyclin D1 and E. The bas is for autoimmune responses to cyclin B1 in HCC are unknown at the pre sent time but the possibilities might include aberrations in cyclin B1 regulation leading to altered product or its expression which resulte d in stimulation of immune reactions.