Evaluation of humoral response to tumor antigens using recombinant expression-based serological mini-arrays (SMARTA).

Screening of expression cDNA libraries derived from human neoplasms with autologous sera (SEREX) is an established method for defining antigens immunogenic in individual cancer patients. Although the majority of SEREX-derived cDNA clones encode autoantigens, some of them represent shared cancer antigens with cancer-related serological profiles. Routine evaluation of multiple SEREX-derived clones in serological assays using panels of allogeneic sera from cancer patients is an important step towards defining disease parameters of diagnostic and prognostic significance.

Cyclosporin A blocks the expression of lymphotoxin alpha, but not lymphotoxin beta, in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

The 2 lymphotoxin subunits LTalpha (also called tumor necrosis factor beta [TNF-beta]) and LTbeta belong to the family of TNF-related cytokines. They form either a soluble homotrimeric ligand (LTalpha(3)) that binds to and signals through CD120a/b (TNFRp55 and TNFRp75), or a membrane-associated heterotrimeric ligand (LTalpha(1)beta(2)) that binds to and signals through the LTbeta receptor (LTbetaR). In mice, LTbetaR signaling is critical for the maintenance of peripheral lymphoid tissues and optimal immune responses, and its down-regulation results in immunodeficiency.