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We have found that 4H84 monoclonal antibody (mAb) used for detection of beta2m free HLA-G molecules also binds to free heavy chains of classical HLA class I antigens generated on the cell surface by mild acid treatment. Here we demonstrate that beta2m free classical HLA class I molecules induced on the surface of activated lymphocytes not expressing HLA-G also bind 4H84 mAb. These results demonstrate that 4H84 mAb should be used for detection of HLA-G in cells and tissues with backing by other HLA-G specific mAbs.

Mild acid treatment by releasing beta(2)m and antigenic peptides leaves human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I free heavy chains attached to the cell surface. Acid treatment thus allows detection of the cell surface class I antigens by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to HLA-free heavy chains. We found that acid treatment also enables detection of the cell surface non-classical HLA-G class I antigen with mAbs specific for HLA-G free heavy chains, including 4H84 mAb recognizing all isoforms. Furthermore, we found that 4H84 mAb, but not other mAbs specific to HLA-G free heavy chains, binds to the surface of 8 out of 16 acid-treated leukemia cell lines. Nevertheless, HLA-G antigen is not present in any of these leukemia cells. This was demonstrated by failure to detect any antigen with 4H84 mAb in immunoblotting as well as by inability to detect HLA-G mRNA by RT-PCR. The antigen recognized by 4H84 mAb in some acid treated leukemia cells was identified by immunoprecipitation as a 45 kDa protein. A number of observations indicate that 45 kDa proteins are none other than classical class I heavy chains. Acid treatment thus induces the ability of the 4H84 mAb to recognize some classical HLA class I molecules. Remarkably, 4H84 determinant on HLA-G is linear but corresponding determinant present on some partially folded classical HLA class I free heavy chains is conformational. In view of the unexpected cross-reactivity, detection of HLA-G with this mAb must be carefully evaluated to avoid false detection.

The immunodominant peptide of human immunodeficiency virus 1 gp 160 for murine cytotoxic T cells of H-2d haplotype, has been originally identified as a 15 amino acid residue peptide P18IIIB (RIQRGPGRAFVTIGK) (Takahashi et al., 1988). Further studies have indicated that a more active form of the peptide is generated by removal of the C-terminal dipeptide by angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE), and additional detailed studies have shown that the actual immunodominant peptide is a decamer P18-I10 (RGPGRAFVTI) (Kozlowski et al., 1993). The effect of proteolytic processing on the antigenicity of P18IIIB peptide and its analogs was investigated by functional T cell assays based on the ability of T cell receptor (TCR) to recognize a specific major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)/peptide complex. Recently we described a new monoclonal antibody (MAb) KP15 directed against the MHC-I molecule H-2Dd complexed with the 10-mer peptide P18-I10. Using this MAb, the cell surface H-2Dd/P18-I10 complex can be easily detected by flow cytometry (Polakova et al., 2000). Here we examined whether peptides longer than P18-I10 decamer form H-2Dd complexes recognized by KP15 MAb. Further we also analyzed how the ACE processing of P18IIIB-related peptides of different length affects their ability to form complexes with H-2Dd recognized by MAb KP15. These experiments confirmed that the ACE digestion of 15-mer peptide P18IIIB is the most effective in the production of a peptide capable of forming complex with H-2Dd recognized by KP15 MAb. The ACE digestion of longer peptides (16-mer to 19-mer) did not produce a significant quantity of peptides, capable of forming H-2Dd complexes recognizable with by MAb KP15. Peptides shorter than P18IIIB (13-mer to 10-mer), notably the optimally sized P18-I10 peptide lost most of their capacity to form H-2Dd complexes recognized by KP15 MAb. Our results show that the extracellular processing of MHC-I-restricted peptides, which cannot be overlooked in designing peptide-based vaccines, can be also studied by as simple and rapid assay as flow cytometry, provided MAbs specific to a particular MHC-I/peptide complex are available.

The crossreactivity of mouse monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) (Tab. I) prepared against human HLA-DR and HLA-DP antigens was studied in various bovine cells: lymphocytes from lymph nodes and peripheral blood, adherent (B) and nonadherent (T) lymphocytes, monocytes, granulocytes and platelets. In the immunofluorescence test, MoAbs Bra13, Bra14, Bra20, Bra22, Bra30, Bra70, HL-38 reacted with bovine B lymphocytes and monocytes, but not with other tested cells (Tab. III, IV). These antibodies, except Bra22, were positive with B lymphocytes in the complement dependent cytotoxic test (Tab. II). The similarity of the bovine antigens and HLA-DR antigens determined by used MoAbs was also proved by immunoblotting. Monoclonal antibodies Bra38 and BraFB6 did not react with the bovine cells and separated antigens. The epitope (HLA-DR) recognized by the antibody Bra38 is probably absent in cattle. The presence of HLA-DP analogue determined by the antibody BraFB6 has not been confirmed. The crossreactive MoAbs could be used for the detection of B lymphocytes and macrophages in veterinary immunology.

New monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against HLA class I antigens were prepared and characterized. Three mAbs (CLI-1, CLI-2, CLI-3) were directed to the heavy chain of HLA class I molecules and one mAb (B2M-1) is specific to beta 2-microglobulin. Using these mAbs, it was confirmed that acid treatment selectively eliminated cell surface HLA class I antigenicity. The treatment with citric acid solution resulted in preparation of cells with lower residual HLA class I surface molecules than was seen after the treatment with glycine buffer.

Seventeen monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) reacting specifically with the cells infected with herpes simplex viruses type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2) were characterized by a variety of immunological tests such as radioimmunoprecipitation, immunoblotting and virus-neutralization. The majority of Mabs was directed against glycoprotein B (anti-gB), six reacted with glycoprotein C (anti-gC) and one with glycoprotein G (anti-gG). Six anti-gB Mabs reacted with both types of HSV (anti-gB-1,2), two anti-gB and all the six anti-gC Mabs have been specific for HSV-1 (anti-gB-1 and anti-gC-1). The remaining two anti-gB Mabs and the anti-gG have been specific to HSV-2 (anti-gB-2 and anti-gG). Only three out of the seventeen examined Mabs neutralized the virus.

A new monoclonal antibody TR-19 (IgG2a) directed to the human transferrin receptor (CD71) was prepared after immunization of BALB/c mice with human non-T, non-B ALL cell line REH-6. This monoclonal antibody (mAb) reacted in immunofluorescence with all human cell lines tested. The reactivity with human peripheral blood leukocytes was observed only after stimulation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). The protein precipitated by mAb TR-19 has an apparent molecular weight of 180 kDa under nonreducing and 90 kDa under reducing conditions. Sequential immunoprecipitation showed that mAb TR-19 recognizes the same antigen as the reference anti-transferrin receptor mAb OKT9. The mAb TR-19 coprecipitates the radioiodinated transferrin as a complex with its receptor. The mAb TR-19 with other three mAbs (OKT9, 5E9 and MEM-75) was used in the topographic study of the transferrin receptor. By competitive binding radioimmunoassay it was found that these mAbs recognize two distinct antigenic sites: One is specified by mAbs TR-19 and OKT9 and the second by mAbs 5E9 and MEM-75.

The properties of monomorphic antigenic determinants on DR molecules of HLA class II antigens were analyzed with a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies (mabs). Competition assays and immunoblottings showed that these mabs recognize three distinct antigenic sites. The cluster of antigenic determinants specified by mabs Bra30, Bra38, HL-39, MEM-12 and L243 belongs to the first antigenic site. The second antigenic site was demonstrated only with mab Bra20. The first two antigenic sites were detected only on DR molecules and they both depended on conformation and/or association of heavy and light chains of HLA class II molecules. Finally, the third cluster of antigenic determinants recognized by mabs Bra13, Bra22, Bra70, HL-38, and HL-40 is localized on light chains of both, DR and DP, molecules of HLA class II antigens. On the contrary to the mabs against the first two antigenic sites, reactivity of mabs with the third antigenic site was not affected by denaturation of HLA class II molecule.

A series of seven monoclonal antibodies recognizing cell surface antigens of similar distribution on a panel of leukemia/lymphoma and lymphoblastoid human cell lines was prepared by hybridoma technique after immunization with non-T, non-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line REH. Immune reactivity of these monoclonal antibodies with B-lymphoblastoid and lymphoma cell lines, as well as with non-T, non-B leukemia cell lines but not with T-leukemic and myeloid leukemic cell lines (with the exception of myeloid leukemia cell line KG 1) was demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence. No reactivity was observed with the examined human non-hemopoietic tumor cell lines, except melanoma cell lines HMB-2 and SK 1477. These antibodies immunoprecipitated a similar cell surface bimolecular glycoprotein complex consisting of two glycosylated chains (gp30, 35), as demonstrated by immunoprecipitation of cell surface 125I-lactoperoxidase radioiodinated, periodate/tritiated borohydride radiolabeled and 35S-methionine metabolically radiolabeled proteins of REH cells. These properties, typical of MHC class II antigens correspond also to immunoperoxidase staining of lymph nodes with some selected antibodies.

The monoclonal antibody Bra23/9 (IgG2a) elicited by a non-T, non-B ALL cell line (REH), reacted in microscopic immunofluorescence, enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), complement-dependent cytotoxicity tests and immunocytofluorometric measurements with hemopoietic cell lines and peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes and granulocytes from healthy donors in a pattern characteristic for MHC class I antigens. Immunoprecipitation of lactoperoxidase radioiodinated cell surface proteins and surface sialoglycoproteins radiolabeled by sodium metaperiodate/tritiated sodium borohydride technique confirmed the structure gp44,p12 (consisting of a 44 kDa glycopeptide linked with a nonglycosylated 12 kDa peptide) typical for MHC class I antigen(s) as a structure recognized by the Bra23/9 monoclonal antibody. The increase of MHC class I antigen density (immunofluorescence intensity) induced by a phorbol ester (TPA) in monoblast U 937 lymphoma cell line was observed by immunocytofluorometry as a predominant tendency in several TPA-induction experiments, where a certain variability among individual experiments in TPA-induced MHC class I antigen alterations was observed.

Monoclonal antibodies were used in competitive binding assays to investigate the arrangement of three epitopes on the protein p19 of avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV). It was reasoned that if the epitopes recognized by two monoclonal antibodies are physically close, the binding of one antibody will sterically block the binding of the second; conversely no blocking will occur if the epitopes are sufficiently distant. The results of these competitive binding assays demonstrated the presence of two distinct antigenic sites on the protein p19. Monoclonal antibodies against the protein p19 of AMV were tested also in gel double immunodiffusion. Since the p19 protein has strong tendency to aggregate, it was not surprising, that clear precipitin lines with these monoclonal antibodies were obtained.

Two newly prepared monoclonal antibodies elicited by a human non-T, non-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line REH recognized distinct antigenic specificities characterized by the pattern of their immunofluorescence reactivities with a panel of hemopoietic cell lines and by immunoprecipitation of 125I-lactoperoxidase radioiodinated cell surface proteins, as well as periodate/tritiated borohydride radiolabeled cell surface sialoglycoproteins. Monoclonal antibody anti-p30 (BraFB6; IgG2b) recognized an antigen similar in its distribution to MHC class II antigens and immunoprecipitated a p30 cell surface protein, radiolabeled by lactoperoxidase catalyzed radioiodination. Monoclonal antibody anti-gp95 (BraEA10; IgG3) reacted in immunofluorescence intensively with non-T, non-B, T-leukemia and myeloid leukemia cell lines, less intensively with lymphoblastoid and lymphoma cell lines of B-phenotype and no reactivity was observed with examined non-hemopoietic human tumor cell lines. This antibody immunoprecipitated a lactoperoxidase radioiodinated and periodate/NaB3H4 tritium-radiolabeled cell surface sialoglycoprotein of approximately 95k (gp95) with variability in its apparent molecular weight, related to the origin of cells utilized for radiolabeling and immunoprecipitation.

Influenza A and B viruses isolated from animals and man were studied by solid phase radioimmunoassay (SP RIA) using monoclonal antibodies to the A/Dunedin/4/73 strain nucleoprotein (NP). Only influenza A viruses isolated before 1980 interacted with the monoclonal antibody set used, while strains isolated between 1980 and 1983 failed to do so. It was shown that RIA employing monoclonal antibodies was useful for rapid identification of influenza virus NP in the allantoic fluid containing fresh influenza A virus isolates.

A mouse hybridoma cell line IIB9, secreting IgG2b antibody specific for a HeLa cell antigen, was obtained by fusion of a mouse myeloma cell line with spleen cells from mice immunized with purified VSV tsO45 mutant (defective in assembly of G protein) which had been reproduced at a non-permissive temperature in HeLa cells. The monoclonal antibody IIB9 was strictly specific for HeLa cells in two tests: (1) reaction with VSV or Chandipura virus phenotypically mixed with host cell antigen, (2) complement-dependent cytotoxicity test (51Cr-release).

Anti-haemagglutinin monoclonal antibodies were prepared and their HA1 or HA2 specificity was determined by solid phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) using purified viral haemagglutinin (HA) and haemagglutinin glycopolypeptides HA1 and HA2, by radioimmunoprecipitation followed with SDS-PAGE, by immunoblotting and by inhibition of virus-induced haemagglutination. The capacity of these methods to estimate HA1 or HA2 specificity of anti-HA monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) was compared. HA1 specificity was demonstrated for all hybridomas originating from lymphocytes of mice immunized with complete influenza virus, except IIF4 hybridoma which was HA2-specific. All hybridomas obtained with lymphocytes from mice immunized with HA glycopolypeptide HA2 were HA2-specific. Anti-HA2 MoAb neither inhibit haemagglutination induced by the virus or by HA subunits nor neutralized viral infectivity, either alone or in mixture. As expected, all anti-HA1 MoAb were H3 subtype-specific, showing usually good reactivity only with viruses close to the virus strain used for immunization. Two anti-HA1 MoAb (IVA1 and IVG6) showed unusual cross-reactivity within the H3 subtype. All anti-HA2 MoAb were broadly cross-reactive within the H3 subtype. Moreover, a half of them showed high cross-reactivity with influenza viruses of the H7 HA subtype. But the same antibodies did not react with HA of H1, H2 and H8 subtypes.

Hybridomas were prepared by fusion of mouse myeloma cell line Sp2/0 with lymphocytes from mice immunized with avian myeloblastosis virus (AMV). The specificity of each monoclonal antibody was characterized by radioimmunoassay (RIA) using purified viral core proteins, immunoprecipitation of radioactively labeled virus (35S-methionine-labeled AMV, 125J-labeled AMV) and immunoblotting. One monoclonal antibody (IC11) which is of IgG1 subclass, and two other monoclonal antibodies (IF9 and IB8), both of IgG3 subclass, were directed against the p19 protein of AMV. The remaining eight monoclonal antibodies (most of them of IgM class) did not precipitate viral proteins under the experimental conditions used, except IIG12 hybridoma antibody which irregularly precipitated glycoprotein gp85. Since most of them (seven, including IIG12) gave positive reactions in RIA with antigenically unrelated influenza virus, these monoclonal antibodies were directed against virus components specified by chick cells (host cell antigen).

A great number of hybridoma clones has been developed in two independent fusions after immunization with cells of a human non-T, non-B REH leukemic cell line, recognizing different differentiation antigens on leukocytes. Only four of these new murine monoclonal hybridoma-derived antibodies (Bra20, Bra30, BraFB6 and BraEA10) have been used in our study for determination of their reactivity spectrum in normal blood cells and fresh lymphoid and non-lymphoid leukemic cells. The resulting reactivity spectra of these four monoclonal antibodies in normal hemopoietic and leukemic cells in indirect immunofluorescence assay are in agreement with supposed Ia-like reactivity for Bra20, Bra30 and Bra FB6 monoclonal antibodies and "common" leukocyte specificity for BraEA10 monoclonal antibody.

The antigen recognized by a newly produced monoclonal antibody (bra55; IgG1) elicited by the non-T, non-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line REH 6, was expressed on all examined hemopoietic neoplastic cell lines (including non-T, non-B, T, B and myeloid leukemia cell lines), but not on examined nonhemopoietic human tumor cell lines (such as carcinoma, sarcoma, melanoma and neuroblastoma cell lines), as demonstrated by indirect immunofluorescence and enzyme-linked immunoassay. Specific immunoprecipitation of 125I-lacto-peroxidase radioiodinated cell surface proteins and sodium metaperiodate/tritiated sodium borohydride 3H-radiolabeled cell surface sialoglycoproteins followed by electrophoretic analysis (SDS-PAGE) demonstrated that the immunoprecipitated antigen is a cell surface 200 kDa sialoglycoprotein (on the non-T, non-B ALL cell line REH 6), with variation in its electrophoretic mobility (in the Mr range of 170,000-210,000) on different examined cell lines. These properties are characteristic for the leukocyte common antigen (LCA, T200). Immunoperoxidase staining of several normal and malignant tissues, as well as some nonhemopoietic tumor tissues confirmed the type of antigen tissue distribution pattern characteristic for LCA.