CHARACTERIZATION OF A MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY RECOGNIZING SELECTIVE EPITHELIAL ELEMENTS OF WILMS-TUMORS AND FETAL KIDNEYS

A new antigen was detected using a monoclonal antibody generated again st malignant blastema from a Wilms' tumor This antigen showed variable expression in malignant blastemal cells but was never detected in nor mal blastema of fetal kidneys irrespective of gestational stage. In a series of IG Wilms' tumors, the most intense and consistent staining w as seen in tubule-associated epithelial cells. Such tubular staining i s not surprising as the putative induction of malignant blastema to di fferentiate into malignant tubules is thought to parallel normal tubul ogenesis. This antigen was also associated with epithelial cells locat ed in a variety of fetal kidney structures. Again, the staining was mo st consistent in tubular epithelia. This monoclonal antibody reactive with a blastemal-epithelial-tubular (BET) antigen should be of value i n studying the induction of epithelial differentiation. in the normal and diseased human kidney.