S-antigen immunoreactivity in human pineal glands and pineal parenchymal tumors. A monoclonal antibody study

Acta Neuropathol. 1986;71(3-4):224-7. doi: 10.1007/BF00688043.

Abstract

Using a four-step immunoperoxidase (PAP) method and the monoclonal antibody MAbA9-C6 (MAbA9-C6), which defines an epitope of the retinal S-antigen (S-Ag), we investigated the S-Ag immunoreactivity in human fetal, newborn, infantile and adult pineal glands and in 13 human pineal parenchymal tumors. S-Ag immunoreactivity was demonstrated in a few cells in one of the four fetal and in both infantile glands. Eight of nine adult pineal glands contained isolated MAbA9-C6-positive cells. In two of seven pineocytomas showing neuronal or gangliogliomatous differentiation a few scattered cells displayed S-Ag positivity; two of four pineoblastomas contained small groups of strongly immunoreactive neoplastic cells; two malignant pineocytomas did not demonstrate any S-Ag immunoreactivity. Our results indicate that isolated cells in human pineal gland retain some of the cytochemical characteristics of photoreceptor cells recognized by the MAbA9-C6, and that S-Ag immunoreactivity may be occasionally expressed in pineal parenchymal tumors.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens*
  • Antigens, Neoplasm*
  • Arrestin
  • Brain Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Eye Proteins*
  • Fetus
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Middle Aged
  • Pineal Gland / immunology*
  • Pinealoma / immunology*
  • Pinealoma / pathology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antigens
  • Antigens, Neoplasm
  • Arrestin
  • Eye Proteins