THE EFFECTS OF ANTIBODIES ON CELLS. II. CHANGES IN THE ELECTROPHORETIC MOBILITY OF ASCITES TUMOUR CELLS TREATED WITH ANTIBODIES AND COMPLEMENT

Abstract

This communication describes the use of micro-electrophoresis in studying the changes in ascites tumour cells exposed to antibodies and complement.

Treatment of the cells with rabbit antibody led to a change in electrophoretic mobility consistent with a surface adsorption of γ-globulin. The addition of complement led to a reduction in this electrophoretic effect of antibody. Treatment of the cells with neuraminidase, which produced a marked fall in their electrophoretic mobility, did not alter the effect of rabbit antibody and complement on the cells.

Incubation with iso-antibody, in the presence or absence of complement, did not alter the mobility of the ascites cells measured at pH 7.0.

The addition of 0.01 M calcium chloride to the electrophoresis medium produced a fall in mobility of the cells exposed to either antibody preparation in the presence of complement. Therefore, although iso-antibody and complement did not produce direct changes in cell mobility, changes in the cell surface could be detected by electrophoresis in the presence of calcium ions.

The possibility is discussed that, during immune cytolysis, unmasking of phosphate groups of phospholipids might take place in the cell surface.