Are natural antibodies involved in tumour defence?

Natural antibodies (NAb) are found in the serum of healthy individuals. The se antibodies are produced without any apparent specific antigenic stimulat ion. They are one part of the circulating immunoglobulins and are found in virtually all vertebrate species. NAb react to various self- and non-self a ntigens. A protective function in different infection models could be demon strated. Several groups have reported the ability of NAb to bind to tumour cells. Their possible role in tumour defence is documented in mice. The pre sent status of attempts to characterise the role of NAb in tumour defence i s discussed, particularly as regards the human immune system. This paper fo cuses on antibody-cell interactions and discusses the genetic background of the Nab-producing B-cells. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reser ved.