Search

The technique of producing monoclonal antibodies has become somewhat standardized [1]. Although devices for transferring supernatants and adding fluids have been commercially developed, the technique remains a tedious one. Repetitive works is required to search out the clone that is producing the desired antibody. Since the laws of chance determine succes in finding certain rare antibodies, various strategies must be developed. Among these are modifications of the antigen so that it is presented in different ways, different means of immunizing the mice, methods of concentrating the responding cells, and so on. We wish to discuss here one strategy that we consider to be basic.

Heterogeneity of the antigen Bw22 has been reported at the previous Workshops and was confirmed in different populations by many investigators.

The following sera (listed in order of quality) behaved as very good anti-DR7 typing reagents: 9w638, 640, 629, 630, 642, and 633. Each of these had very few extra reactions and few false negatives. In particular, there was no reactivity against DR4- or DRw9-positive cells. Sera 9w637 and 9w634 contained mainly anti-DR7 but gave some extra reactions with no obvious specificity. Serum 9w639 was a weak anti-DR7. Serum 9w636 contained anti-DR3 + 7. The same was true for 9w717, 719–724, and 727, which reacted with almost all DR7 cells. Other broad sera containing strong anti-DR7 activity were 9w731, 733–735, 741, and 743. In addition, 9w774 (submitted as new) contained anti-DR7. There was no evidence that DR7 may be split.

The ultimate goal of a mathematical/statistical model is to give a complete quantitative expression of the relation between variables describing outcome and antecedent, conditioning variables. One would like to express graft survival, for example, in terms of the multitude of variables that jointly determine how long and how well a given graft will function. The model could be expressed by equations, graphs, tables or combinations of these modes. The ideal is probably unattainable, and considerable simplification is necessary, particularly considering that each transplant/potential transplant is unique.