Electric field-induced cell fusion and human monoclonal antibodies

A persistent problem in the generation of antigen-specific human monoclonal antibodies is the rarity of appropriate B cells in human blood or splenic tissues. In order to immortalize the rare antigen-specific cells that are available, an electric field-induced cell fusion technique has been shown to markedly increase the fusion efficiency in comparison to polyethylene glycol-induced cell fusion using Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) or pokeweed mitogen activated B cells. Fusion efficiency of 10(-3)-10(-4) has been achieved by this process with as low as 1 X 10(6) input EBV-activated B cells. A panel of human monoclonal antibodies to human cytomegalovirus has subsequently been produced using this technique. This improvement should enable wider therapeutic and diagnostic applications of human monoclonal antibodies.     

Characterization of human monoclonal antibodies directed against the pp65-kD matrix antigen of human cytomegalovirus.

Human monoclonal antibodies specific for human cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigens have been established using peripheral blood lymphocytes from a seropositive donor. Immortalization of antigen-specific B cells was achieved by Epstein-Barr virus transformation followed by somatic cell fusion of antigen-specific lymphoblastoid cells. Four clones producing high-affinity antibodies (0.2-7 x 10(9) M-1) specific for the viral matrix protein pp65 have been further characterized with respect to epitope specificity of secreted antibodies. The studied antigen represents a major protein produced by in vitro-cultivated virus, and is important in the serodiagnosis of CMV infection. The human monoclonal antibodies recognized different epitopes, some of which proved to be overlapping. The fine specificity of these antibodies was evaluated using synthetic peptides covering the sequence of pp65. The antibody MO58 recognized a linear epitope (residues 283-288) whereas antibody MO53 recognized a discontinuous epitope involving residues 208-216 and 280-285. Despite the close proximity of these epitopes, the antibodies did not compete with each other for the same binding site on intact antigen.     

Interaction of human PD-L1 and B7-1

Numerous studies have pointed to the role of programmed death-1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) in regulating tolerance, chronic infection, and tumor immunity. Recently, we have identified murine B7-1 as a new binding partner for murine PD-L1. Human and mouse B7-1 share only 46% identity, leading us to question whether human B7-1 and PD-L1 can participate in a similar interaction. Here we show that human B7-1 can interact with human PD-L1 with affinity greater than that of B7-1 with CD28, but less than that of B7-1 with CTLA-4 or of PD-L1 with PD-1. We characterize a series of anti-human PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies and identify antibodies that can block interactions of PD-L1 with B7-1, PD-1, or both. Since PD-L1 and CD28 on T cells may compete for B7-1 as a binding partner and CD8 T cells may express high or low levels of CD28, we examined when PD-L1 and CD28 are co-expressed on CD8 T cells. We compared the time-course and extent of PD-L1 induction on CD8 CD28high versus CD28low T cells following stimulation with anti-CD3. We show that PD-L1 is induced to a higher level on CD28high T cells than on CD28low T cells upon activation. These results suggest that PD-L1 may play an important and undervalued role on human T cells.     

Human monoclonal thyroglobulin autoantibodies of high affinity. I. Production, characterisation and interaction with murine monoclonal thyroglobulin antibodies.

Four hybridomas secreting human thyroglobulin (Tg) autoantibodies of different IgG subclasses and light chain types (IgG1 lambda, IgG1 kappa, IgG2 lambda and IgG2 kappa) were obtained by direct fusion of Hashimoto thyroid lymphocytes with the mouse myeloma X63-Ag.653. The autoantibodies were specific for human Tg and the functional affinities were high (only 2.6-3.9 log10 pM Tg required to give 50% inhibition of binding in ELISA). Using thyroid lymphocytes, 4 lines secreting Tg autoantibodies were obtained from 11 fusions compared with 1 line from 32 fusions of Epstein Barr virus infected blood lymphocytes, which emphasises the importance of using lymphocytes derived from a tissue known to be enriched in thyroid autoantibody secreting precursor B cells. These 4 human Tg autoantibodies, as well as an IgG2 lambda Tg antibody previously derived from Hashimoto blood B cells and an IgG4 kappa monoclonal Tg antibody present in a Hashimoto serum, were used in attempts to probe the interaction between human Tg autoantibodies and the Tg molecule (2 polypeptides of 330 KD). The binding to 125-I Tg by 3/7 murine monoclonal antibodies was inhibited (36-78%) by an IgG2 lambda and an IgG4 kappa human monoclonal Tg autoantibody, indicating an overlap between the epitopes recognised by these 3 murine monoclonal Tg antibodies and 2 monoclonal human Tg autoantibodies. None of the human Tg autoantibodies (or the murine monoclonal Tg antibodies) bound to Tg denatured by reduction and alkylation. Although the number of observations is limited, our study demonstrates that high affinity human monoclonal Tg autoantibodies, like polyclonal serum Tg autoantibodies, recognise non-linear B cell epitopes on conformationally intact human Tg.     

Expression and function of B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86) on human epidermal Langerhans cells

In addition to T cell receptor triggering, activation of T cells requires co-stimulatory signals that have been shown to be mainly initiated through CD28. We analyzed the expression and function of the two ligands for CD28, B7-1 (CD80) and B7-2 (CD86), on human Langerhans cells (LC), the antigen-presenting cells from epidermis. Human LC freshly isolated from epidermis (fLC) expressed significant level of B7-2, which was increased upon a short culture in vitro. In contrast, B7-1 was undetectable on fLC but appeared at the cell surface after a 3-day culture in vitro. Pre-incubation of 18-h cultured LC with anti-B7-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAb) was sufficient to abrogate the binding of CTLA4-Ig fusion protein, while a combination of both mAb against B7-1 and B7-2 was necessary to obtain a complete inhibition of CTLA4-Ig binding on 3-day cultured LC, showing the absence of a third CTLA4 ligand. The function of B7-1 and B7-2 on human LC has been analyzed by adding mAb at the beginning of mixed epidermal cell lymphocyte reactions. Anti-B7-2 mAb and CTLA4-Ig, but not anti-B7-1 mAb, strongly inhibited allogeneic, as well as recall antigen-induced T cell proliferation supported by fLC or 3-day cultured LC. Collectively, these results demonstrate that B7-2 is the major ligand for CD28/CTLA4 at the LC surface and that it plays a crucial role in human LC co-stimulatory function with little, if any, dependence on B7-1 expression.     

The generation of hybridomas secreting human monoclonal antibodies reactive with type II collagen

Human monoclonal antibodies reactive with type II collagen were obtained from patients with rheumatoid arthritis and relapsing polychondritis by fusion of cells with the human-mouse myeloma analogue HMMA2.11 TG/0. Direct fusion of peripheral blood or bone marrow mononuclear cells was unsuccessful in obtaining antibody producing hybridomas although fusion efficiency was high (1 hybridoma per 25,400 mononuclear cells fused). Polyclonal, Epstein Barr Virus transformed B cell lines derived from peripheral blood and bone marrow mononuclear cells after direct transformation, in vitro secondary immunization, and/or CD8 depletion were found to produce antibodies that reacted with type II collagen. Antibody producing EBV transformed B cells were fused with the human-mouse myeloma analogue HMMA2.11 TG/0 and six separate, stable IgM antibody producing hybridomas obtained. These results demonstrate the difficulty in obtaining human monoclonal autoantibodies, particularly of IgG isotypes, using readily accessible sources of cells in patients with chronic autoimmune diseases without expansion and preselection.     

A monoclonal antibody inhibiting human placental Fc gamma-receptor activity

Fc gamma receptor (FcR) from human placenta was solubilized using EDTA and 2-mercaptoethanol and purified by affinity chromatography on human IgG-coated Sepharose 4B. BALB/C mice were immunized with FcR and monoclonal antibodies were obtained by growing hybridoma cells following fusion of spleen cells with P3 X 63Ag8 myeloma cells. Using an immunofluorescence technique, the IgG1 monoclonal antibody secreted by clone B1D6 stained the FcR-positive areas in sections of placental tissue. The endothelium of the foetal stem vessels stained more strongly than did the trophoblasts. The antibody also inhibited the haemadsorption to placental tissue of erythrocytes (E) sensitized with IgG antibodies (A), (EA), and inhibited the agglutination of EA by FcR. The data indicate that the monoclonal antibody reacts with the placental FcR at the binding site for IgG, or with an epitope close to the binding site. Apparently, the FcR in different anatomical areas in the placenta have a common antigenic determinant.     

The construction and use of a human-mouse myeloma analogue suitable for the routine production of hybridomas secreting human monoclonal antibodies

A human-mouse myeloma analogue termed HMMA2.11TG/O was constructed by fusion of the mouse myeloma cell line P3x63Ag8.653, a mutant derivative of MOPC21, with bone marrow mononuclear cells from a patients with IgA myeloma. The HMMA2.11TG/O cell line is resistant to 6-thioguanine and ouabain and sensitive to HAT. The cell line secretes no detectable immunoglobulin and has a hybrid karyotype and cell surface phenotype. An average fusion efficiency for growth of hybridomas of 1/17,000 fused cells was obtained in fusions with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM), Pokeweed Mitogen (PWM) stimulated PBM, and Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) transformed polyclonal B cell lines. Over 75% of hybrids secrete detectable immunoglobulin and the cloning efficiency of the hybrids at 1 cell/well averages 25%. Antibody secreting cloned hybridoma cell lines were obtained by fusion directly with PBM from an immunized volunteer and by fusion with in vitro, secondarily immunized, EBV transformed polyclonal cell lines. Five hybridomas secreting human monoclonal IgM anti-tetanus antibodies and 2 secreting human monoclonal IgG anti-tetanus antibodies were selected and cloned from 6 fusions performed specifically for anti-tetanus antibody. Immunoglobulin and antibody secretion by cloned hybrids has been stable for 5-10 months at present. Immunoglobulin and antibody secretion in routine cultures passaged every 3-4 days has been 8-42 micrograms/ml. This human-mouse myeloma analogue should prove useful for the routine production of human monoclonal antibodies.     

Human antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 glycoprotein C are neutralizing and target the heparan sulfate-binding domain

Human antibodies specific for glycoprotein C (gC1) of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) neutralized the virus infectivity and efficiently inhibited attachment of HSV-1 to human HaCaT keratinocytes and to murine mutant L cells expressing either heparan sulfate or chondroitin sulfate at the cell surface. Similar activities were observed with anti-gC1 monoclonal antibody B1C1. In addition to HaCaT and L cells, B1C1 antibody neutralized HSV-1 infectivity in simian GMK AH1 cells mildly pre-treated with heparinase III. Human anti-gC1 antibodies efficiently competed with the binding of gC1 to B1C1 antibody whose epitope overlaps a part of the attachment domain of gC1. Human anti-gC1 and B1C1 antibodies extended survival time of mice experimentally infected with HSV-1. We conclude that in HaCaT cells and in cell systems showing restricted expression of glycosaminoglycans, human and some monoclonal anti-gC1 antibodies can target the cell-binding domain of this protein and neutralize viral infectivity.     

Human monoclonal antibodies against a recombinant HIV envelope antigen produced by primary in vitro immunization. Characterization and epitope mapping.

Peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy, HIV sero-negative blood donors have been in vitro immunized using penv9, a recombinant fragment of the envelope of HIV-1. This primary in vitro immunization followed by Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) transformation and somatic cell fusion subsequently gave rise to several specific anti-penv9 monoclonal antibodies (MO28, MO30 and MO43) of mu isotype. The hybridomas have been kept in culture for over 6 months and the antibody productivity for MO30 was measured to 18 micrograms x (24 hr x 10(6) cells)-1. The fine specificity of the antibodies was mapped by a peptide inhibition enzyme immunoassay, using overlapping synthetic pentadeca peptides covering the whole penv9. These human monoclonal antibodies exhibited a similar epitope specificity directed against a non-sequential determinant, including the amino acids 632-646, 677-681 and 687-691. This specificity is very rarely found in immune sera from seropositive patients and presently not reported in human monoclonal antibodies derived from in vivo immunized individuals, indicating that different antibody specificities can be obtained by the in vitro immunization technology. These human monoclonal antibodies did not neutralize HIV. The results presented here demonstrate the feasability of generating human monoclonal antibodies against HIV by primary in vitro immunizations, thereby avoiding the use of lymphocytes derived from infected patients when human monoclonal antibodies for therapeutic purposes are to be produced.     

Human p85 glycoprotein bears three distinct epitopes defined by several monoclonal antibodies

A glycoprotein of apparent mol. wt 85,000 isolated from human cells of B lineage by affinity to 50B4-IgG immunoadsorbent was shown previously to express two spatially distinct epitopes identified with monoclonal antibodies 50B4 and 50E6 [Letarte et al. (1985) Molec. Immun. 22, 113-124]. It is now demonstrated that the p85 glycoprotein is homologous to the F10-44-2 antigen, defined initially as a T-lymphocyte-granulocyte-brain antigen [Dalchau et al. (1980) Eur. J. Immun. 10, 745-749], the A1G3 human medullary thymocyte antigen [Haynes et al. (1983) J. Immun. 131, 1195-1200] and the A3D8 antigen defined on erythrocytes [Telen et al. (1983) J. clin. Invest. 71, 1878-1886]. The 50B4 antigen purified either from a B lymphoblastoid cell line or a leukemic cell line, at a concn ranging from 0.25 to 2.0 micrograms protein/ml, could block the binding of either F10-44-2 and F-10-62-1 (a related antibody) or A1G3 and A3D8 antibodies to human leukemic cells. All of these antibodies immunoprecipitated, from the purified antigenic preparation, a single glycosylated polypeptide chain of apparent mol. wt 85,000. Competitive binding studies indicated that these antibodies define at least three epitopes. The F10-44-2 and A3D8 antibodies blocked the reactivity of monoclonal 50E6-IgG with human leukemic cells and thus bind to an epitope identical or spatially related to the 50E6 epitope. Antibody F10-62-1 competed for the binding of 50B4-IgG to leukemic cells and thus recognizes the 50B4-like epitope. The A1G3 antibody blocked 30% of the binding of 50E6-IgG but did not inhibit the binding of 50B4-IgG: it is thus reacting with a third epitope on the p85 glycoprotein distinct from but close to the 50E6 epitope.     

Production, characterization, and applications of two novel monoclonal antibodies against human interleukin-28A

Interleukin-28A (IL-28A) is a novel cytokine discovered in recent years and has been shown to have antiviral activity. In this study, IL-28A complementary DNA was inserted into prokaryotic expression vector pET-44 Ek/LIC. The Nus-S-His-tagged IL-28A fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) in the soluble fraction. The fusion protein was purified by S-protein agarose affinity chromatography, and the fusion tag was removed from recombinant IL-28A by cleavage with thrombin. To prepare specific monoclonal antibody against human IL-28A, BALB/c mice were immunized with IL-28A, and hybridoma cell lines were obtained by fusing mouse spleen cells with myeloma NS-1 cells. Two strains of hybridoma cells, which produced the anti-human IL-28A antibodies 1B9 and 4B5 were obtained. They are IgM isotype and working in western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the present study, it was shown for the first time that human umbilical vein endothelial cells treated with interferon-alpha and poly(I:C) express IL-28A protein assessed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescent staining techniques. Immunohistochemistry showed that macrophage-like cells in colon and lung tissue and alveolar epithelial cells in lung tissue contain IL-28A, indicating a novel mechanism for both cell types to carry out their antivirus or antitumor functions.     

Characterization of Monoclonal Antihuman-B-Cell Antibody BL13 as an Anti-C3d-Receptor (CR2) Antibody

BL13, a mouse monoclonal IgG1 antibody raised against human B cells, blocked the function of the C3d receptor (CR2) and bound with high affinity (5 X 10(8) L M-1) to CR2 on B lymphoma cells. Following capping with the second antibody, BL13 inhibited C3d-dependent rosette formation of Daudi and Raji cells and C3b-dependent CR2-mediated rosette formation with B lymphoma cells, but did not inhibit CR1-mediated rosettes between C3b-bearing cells and peripheral blood lymphocytes. Competitive binding experiments between biotinylated BL13 or anti-CR2 antibody HB-5 and unlabelled antibodies demonstrated that BL13 bound to an epitope that is distinct from that recognized by HB-5, and closely associated with that recognized by monoclonal antibody anti-B2. BL13 only reacted with some B cells and follicular dendritic cells in germinal centres in human lymph nodes, whereas HB-5 strongly reacted with circulating B cells and bound to most cells in the follicles. These results demonstrate the heterogeneity of antigenically defined CR2.     

Passive vaccination with a human monoclonal antibody: generation of antibodies and studies for efficacy in Bacillus anthracis infections

A major difficulty in creating human monoclonal antibodies is the lack of a suitable myeloma cell line to be used for fusion experiments. In order to create fully human monoclonal antibodies for passive immunization, the human mouse heteromyeloma cell line CB-F7 was evaluated. Using this cell line, we generated human monoclonal antibodies against Bacillus anthracis toxin components. Antibodies against protective antigen (PA) and against lethal factor (LF) were obtained using peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from persons vaccinated with the UK anthrax vaccine. PBL were fused with the cell line CB-F7. We obtained several clones producing PA specific Ig and one clone (hLF1-SAN) producing a monoclonal antibody (hLF1) directed against LF. The LF binding antibody was able to neutralize Anthrax toxin activity in an in vitro neutralization assay, and preliminary in vivo studies in mice also indicated a trend towards protection. We mapped the epitope of the antibody binding to LF by dot blot analysis and ELIFA using 80 synthetic LF peptides of 20 amino acid lengths with an overlapping range of 10 amino acids. Our results suggest the binding of the monoclonal antibody to the peptide regions 121-150 or 451-470 of LF. The Fab-fragment of the antibody hLF1 was cloned in Escherichia coli and could be useful as part of a fully human monoclonal antibody for the treatment of Anthrax infections. In general, our studies show the applicability of the CB-F7 line to create fully human monoclonal antibodies for vaccination.     

CD28 is not directly involved in the response of human CD3- CD56+ natural killer cells to lipopolysaccharide: a role for T cells

We have previously shown that human CD3- CD56+ and CD3+ CD56+ cells from some individuals mount vigorous proliferative responses to lipopolysaccharide. Such responses have been blocked by the presence of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 immunoglobulin fusion protein in the cultures, implicating a role for B7-mediated costimulation. Here we confirm this inhibition of natural killer (NK) expansion using antibodies against B7-1 and B7-2. We were unable to specifically detect CD28 on the surface of resting or stimulated human peripheral blood NK cells, however, in either lipopolysaccharide-responsive or non-responsive individuals, using a panel of four different anti-CD28 monoclonal antibodies. T-cell depletion from peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures resulted in a reduction in the induction of CD25 on activated CD3- CD56hi cells and in the expansion and proliferation of CD3- CD56+ NK cells. Furthermore, reconstitution experiments using peripheral blood dendritic cells and purified NK cells demonstrated that NK expansion could only be achieved in the presence of purified T cells.     

The efficient production of stable, human monoclonal antibody-secreting hybridomas from EBV-transformed lymphocytes using the mouse myeloma X63-Ag8.653 as a fusion partner

The mouse myeloma X63-Ag8.653 was fused to peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) from apparently healthy individuals, autoimmune patients and volunteers immunised with Rhesus (D) positive erythrocytes. Fusions were performed with or without prior transformation of PBL with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Using untransformed PBL, under the best conditions a mean fusion frequency of 8.4 X 10(-6) was obtained, with 22% of the resulting hybridomas secreting human immunoglobulin. Fusions with EBV-transformed cells gave fusion frequencies of 1.0 X 10(-4), with 85-90% of hybridomas secreting human immunoglobulin. The heterohybridomas formed in both cases cloned efficiently and had doubling times of 24-30 h. The heterohybridomas secreted human IgM, IgG and IgA of both kappa and lambda isotypes and culture supernatants contained up to 50 micrograms ml-1 of human immunoglobulin. Mouse immunoglobulin was not detected in the culture supernatants. 28 hybrids were selected for vigorous growth and antibody production by repeated cloning. Immunoglobulin synthesis was stabilised in 26 of these hybridomas after two or three cloning steps. The heterohybridomas have been successfully grown in large volumes for periods up to 15 months. It is concluded that the mouse myeloma X63-Ag8.653 is a suitable fusion partner with EBV-transformed B cells in the efficient production of human monoclonal antibodies.     

In vitro stimulation prior to fusion generates antigen-binding human-human hybridomas

Production of useful human monoclonal antibodies has been limited by the inability to reliably generate and isolate antigen-specific B cells by in vivo immunization. An in vitro culture system employing antigen and mitogen to stimulate lymphocytes derived from solid lymphoid organs has been developed. Human tonsilar or splenic lymphocytes were stimulated in vitro with antigen and mitogen in short term culture and then fused with either of two enzyme deficient human B cell lines. This approach appears to expand antigen-specific B cell clones prior to fusion resulting in the production of a significant number of antigen-binding human hybridoma antibodies. The system has been effective in the production of human monoclonal antibodies following stimulation with KLH-ARS, a soluble antigen, and intact group B streptococcus, a particulate antigen. Hybridomas have been produced by fusion with two distinct parental human B cell lines supporting the previously reported observation that human B lymphoblastoid cell lines representing different stages of B cell differentiation may be useful fusion partners. The utility of the in vitro stimulation system in producing human-human hybridomas secreting antibody directed against two distinct classes of antigens establishes this approach as a generally useful method for the production of human monoclonal antibodies.     

CD19+ B lymphocytes are the major source of human antibody-secreting hybridomas generated by electrofusion

Human monoclonal antibodies may be generated by electrofusion of human B lymphocytes with a human/mouse heteromyeloma line. In addition to a fusion protocol optimised for the fusion partners, the activation of B lymphocytes is crucial for fusion and hybrid efficiency. In this study, we initially treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from normal blood donors with a large panel of known stimulants and determined the yield of human antibody-secreting hybridomas after electrofusion with the heteromyeloma cell line H73C11; 3- to 5-day incubation with phytohaemagglutinin L (PHA-L) resulted in the highest number of secreting hybrids. In a second set of experiments, PBMC were depleted from various cell populations, including CD14+ monocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes, and CD2+ T cells, respectively. Undepleted PBMC stimulated with PHA-L were shown to give rise to the highest number of secreting hybridomas when subjected to electrofusion, whereas depletion of CD2+ T lymphocytes greatly reduced the yield. In a final set of experiments, CD19+ B lymphocytes were identified as the major source of secreting hybridomas. For optimal fusion efficiency, CD19+ B cells were shown to require direct physical contact with other cell populations, most probably T lymphocytes, during the stimulation process. Our data highlight the importance of an adequate stimulation prior to electrofusion and may be helpful to further facilitate the development of human monoclonal antibodies.     

ULBP4原核表达、生物学功能鉴定及其单克隆抗体的制备和初步鉴定

目的:在大肠杆菌中表达ULBP4重组蛋白,并制备其特异性的单克隆抗体(mAb),为γδT细胞对ULBP4的识别机制研究奠定基础。方法:根据GenBank中ULBP4的基因序列设计相应的引物,用RT-PCR方法从HO-8910细胞中扩增得到ULBP4片段,构建重组原核表达质粒pET22b( )/ULBP4(前225aa胞外段),在Rosetta-gamiTMB(DE3)大肠杆菌中获得表达且主要位于包含体中,经纯化透析复性后,分析其对NK细胞IFN-γ细胞因子分泌的影响。以ULBP4为抗原,免疫BALB/c小鼠,取免疫小鼠脾细胞和Sp2/0骨髓瘤细胞常规融合,依次经HAT选择培养、间接ELISA法、克隆化培养、荧光免疫检测和流式细胞术以及Western blot筛选和鉴定抗ULBP4 mAb的杂交瘤细胞株。结果:构建了pET22b( )/ULBP4(225aa)原核表达体系,并检测到重组蛋白的有效表达;纯化的重组蛋白在体外培养体系中可以刺激NK细胞IFN-γ细胞因子的分泌。此外,还获得了4株可稳定分泌抗人ULBP4 mAb的杂交瘤细胞株。结论:成功地构建并表达了具有生物活性的ULBP4,为γδT细胞的识别机制研究建立抗原制备平台,同时所制备的抗人ULBP4 mAb,为后续研究奠定了基础。     

Frequencies of phosphorylcholine-specific and T15-associated 10/13 idiotope-positive B cells within lipopolysaccharide-reactive B cells of adult BALB/c mice

The frequencies of lipopolysaccharide-reactive B lymphocytes in adult BALB/c spleen cells were determined by limiting dilution experiments to be between 1 in 50 and 1 in 100. Within this reactive population, the frequencies of B lymphocytes specific for phosphorylcholine (PC) and/or binding a TEPC 15-associated idiotope-specific monoclonal antibody (10/13) were found to be between 1 in 50 and 1 in 500. Binding of these antibodies to immobilized PC or to monoclonal idiotope-specific antibodies could be inhibited by soluble PC in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Around half the PC-specific B cell clones were found to also bind 10/13 idiotope-specific monoclonal antibody, while the rest were either PC specific, but idiotope-negative or idiotope-positive, and unable to bind immobilized PC.