Isolation, characterization, and biosynthesis of Forssman antigen in human lung and lung carcinoma

A glycolipid was isolated from normal lung and lung carcinoma tissues. This glycolipid was identified as the Forssman antigen of pentaglycosyl ceramide by means of chemical and immunological methods. The presence of this antigenic glycolipid was observed in all the tissues examined of adult and embryo lungs, and of lung tumors irrespective of histological type. The extracts of human lung and lung tumors were capable of catalyzing the synthesis of Forssman antigen from globoside.