SYNTHESIS OF ALPHA-FETOPROTEIN, ALBUMIN, AND TRANSFERRIN BY CONTINUOUS MOUSE HEPATOMA-CELLS

The ability of continuous cultures of MGXXIIa mouse hepatoma cells to synthesize α-fetoprotein, albumin, and transferrin was studied by an immunoautoradiographic method. Albumin and transferrin were found in the growth medium of hepatoma cells in the 5th year of culture (55th month), concentrated with polyethylene glycol; no α-fetoprotein could be detected. Only transferrin was found in the growth medium of hepatoma cells in the 8th year of culture (92nd month). Two clonal cultures obtained in the 8th year of culture of hepatoma cells also showed ability to synthesize transferrin. Continuous hepatoma cells preserved their malignancy. In Lyphogel-concentrated sera of mice with tumors formed after inoculation of hepatoma cells in the 5th year of culture, α-fetoprotein was found by the microprecipitation test in agar. No α-fetoprotein was found in the sera of mice with tumors formed after inoculation of hepatoma cells in the 8th year of culture. © 1979 Plenum Publishing Corporation.