Monoclonal antibody that inhibits biological activity of a mammalian ciliary neurotrophic factor

Four monoclonal antibodies to a purified ciliary neurotrophic factor have been produced by a combination of in vivo and in vitro immunization of mouse lymphocytes. Three of the antibodies--3D12, an 1gA subtype, and 5G9 and 2B11, both IgM subtypes--bound to the single band on immunoblots of the purified factor. Of the four clones only one, 3D12, produced antibodies able to inhibit the biological activity of the neurotrophic factor in promoting the survival of ciliary neurones in dissociated culture.