DIAGNOSTIC RELEVANCE OF ABORTION-ASSOCIATED HUMAN EMBRYONIC ANTIGEN EXPRESSED ON THE CELL-SURFACE OF TUMOR PROMOTER-TREATED BLOOM-SYNDROME CELLS

We detected stable expression of human embryonic antigen associated wi th spontaneous abortion (HEAA) on the cell surface of a tumour promote r-treated B lymphoblastoid cell line (BS-SHY) originating from Bloom s yndrome, We used indirect immunofluorescence and diluted serum from 44 patients who had recurrent spontaneous abortions, With the use of the panning procedure, we separated characteristic cells expressing stron g HEAA, The BS-SHY-HEAA cells separated here would be useful for measu ring serum antibody (against HEAA) produced by patients with recurrent abortions. It was also noted that aborters who received husbands) leu kocyte immunization have lost this antibody, and have delivered succes sful pregnancies at term. Using HEAA proteins, we conducted Western bl otting analysis for the amino acid sequencing (mol wt 77 kDa), Amino a cid sequencing data indicated that HEAA had 87.5% homology to the immu noglobulin (Ig) VHIII region in the framework, Recently, the protectiv e value of high-dose i.v, administration of immunoglobulin in the trea tment of recurrent spontaneous abortions has been reported to be simil ar to that of leukocyte immunization, Therefore, the BS-SHY-HEAA cells appear to provide a valuable tool for rapid serological diagnosis and for evaluating the efficacy of immunotherapy with husbands' leukocyte s in patients with recurrent spontaneous abortions.