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Cloning the correct genes coding for antibody variable domains (especially VL kappa) from hybridomas is often complicated by the presence of several immunoglobulin transcripts, some of them arising from the myeloma cell line. Indeed, four different VL genes were obtained after the amplification of immunoglobulin genes by PCR from the hybridoma HD37, which produces an antibody against the human CD19 B cell differentiation antigen. Most of the variants (eight out of 15) were derived from the kappa chain of the myeloma MOPC-21. For the rapid functional evaluation of recombinant antibody fragments against cell surface antigens, we established an efficient expression and detection system. First, deleted and mutated genes were eliminated by a colony screening procedure. Bacteria from picked colonies were then induced and grown in the presence of 0.4 M sucrose to increase the accumulation of soluble scFv in the periplasm (5-10 micrograms per ml of bacterial shake-tube culture). Finally, the cell-specific binding of scFv in crude periplasmic extracts was detected by flow cytometry. This procedure facilitated the efficient cloning of a functional anti-CD19 VH/VL combination from the hybridoma cDNA.

In previous investigations, it had been shown that class II and associated invariant polypeptides are sorted to an endocytic route where transport is delayed. Invariant chain (Ii) is degraded in a post-Golgi compartment, presumably an endosomal vesicle, and only class II molecules emerge on the cell surface. By using a mAb against the extracytoplasmic domain of human Ii, we demonstrate, by electron microscopy and by cytofluorometry, surface expression of Ii on lymphoma cells and on human B lymphocytes. We examined surface expression of Ii upon inhibition by brefeldin A of intracellular transport from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi stack. This treatment rapidly depletes the cell surface of Ii. In the subsequent absence of brefeldin A, Ii appears rapidly at the cell surface. Within 5 h, the previous level of surface Ii (sIi) is reconstituted. Chloroquine abrogates depletion of sIi by brefeldin A, apparently by inhibition of internalization of sIi. Because on its route to the cell surface Ii is not proteolytically digested, it was possible that Ii and associated class II molecules are not separated on this pathway. Immunochemical studies reveal that on the cell surface of a B lymphoma cell line a proportion of Ii and class II polypeptides are associated.

Immunoprecipitation of radioiodinated hairy cell leukaemia (HCL) cell lysates with monoclonal antibody (MoAb) HML-1, originally reported to recognize intraepithelial T cells, and with MoAb B-ly7, originally reported to react with HCL, led to identical biochemical characteristics. In SDS-PAGE under reducing conditions, a major band of 143 kDa, a broad band ranging from 112 to 122 kDa, and two additional faint bands of 175 and 100 kDa could be determined. Deglycosylation of N-linked sugar moieties by treatment of immunoprecipitates with endoglycosidases indicated that the two main protein cores of the antigen are predominantly if not exclusively glycosylated by complex and hybrid types of oligosaccharide chains. Competitive binding inhibition demonstrated that both MoAb are directed against different epitopes. Immunohistochemically, the staining patterns obtained with both MoAb in normal tissues, in T- and B-cell lymphomas, and in HCL were identical except for a single case of HCL which was HML-1-/B-ly-7+. We conclude that MoAb HML-1 and B-ly7 recognize the same antigen.

Monoclonal antibodies directed against two human B cell-restricted antigens, CD19 and CD22, were conjugated to highly purified ricin A chain. These A chain immunotoxins (A-IT) were specifically cytotoxic to Daudi cells and normal human peripheral blood B cells in vitro. The concentration required for 50% inhibition of protein synthesis (IC50) in these cells ranged from 7.5 X 10(-10) M to 4.2 X 10(-9) M. The specific toxicities of these A-ITs for Daudi cells were augmented 2- to 6-fold in the presence of 20mM NH4Cl. These studies demonstrate that A-ITs specific for CD19 and CD22 may be useful in the clinical treatment of B cell malignancies.

A modified immunoperoxidase assay on microscope slides (IPSA) was adopted as a screening procedure for hybridoma supernatants with specificity for human lymphocyte subpopulations. The method proved to be suitable for testing a large number of hybridomas with a minimum of cells and reagents. In addition, the slide-technique yields considerable information about the type and morphology of target cells. This allows a first differentiation between cell types in the assayed preparation, e.g. between lymphocytes and monocytes. Compared to indirect immunofluorescence, solid-phase radioimmunoassay (RIA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with intact cells as antigen, IPSA turned-out to be as sensitive as RIA and superior to indirect immunofluorescence and ELISA. Nevertheless, none of the assays used detected all supernatants binding to cells in the right manner and could, thus, be considered ideal. In our hands, the combination of RIA and IPSA proved to be an excellent system for screening procedures on lymphocytes.

The 95 Kd CD19 antigen is the broadest lineage specific surface marker for B cells: it is present on the surface of virtually all B lymphocytes, including early B progenitor cells. In this study we have evaluated the function of the CD19 antigen by using the CD19 mAb HD37. Binding of HD37 mAb to B cells at low doses (0.5 microgram/ml) induced a strong inhibition of the proliferative response to anti-Ig. This inhibition was not mediated by the Fc portion of the antibody, since F(ab')2 fragments were as effective as the whole antibody. Both dose-response curve analysis and experiments in which a cross-linking second step anti-mouse antibody was added suggested that cross-linking of CD19 antigens was necessary for optimal inhibition. Early phases in B cell activation were affected by the HD37 mAb: it significantly reduced the number of cells that left G0 and entered the G1 phase of the cell cycle upon triggering with anti-mu. The increase in free intracellular ionized calcium [Ca2+]i that is induced by anti-mu was also consistently reduced by CD19 mAb. Cross-linking was also crucial for this effect, suggesting that a causal relationship may exist between the inhibition of anti-Ig-mediated [Ca2+]i fluxes and inhibition of proliferation. A variable but clear increase in [Ca2+]i levels followed cross-linking of CD19 antigens by specific mAb. This evidence suggests that CD19 molecules may function in the downregulation of B cell growth and proliferation.

The B cell-specific antigen CD22 is a 130/140-Kd complex and is unique among human B cell antigens, since its surface expression is restricted to a subpopulation of Ig+ B cells. Here the function of the CD22 antigen was evaluated by using the mAb HD6, directed against one of the epitopes on the molecule. The HD6 antibody was constimulatory with anti-Ig in inducing small, dense tonsillar cells to proliferate; however, the antibody by itself was devoid of stimulatory activity. Anti-CD22 antibody also induced more anti-Ig-treated B cells to leave G0 and enter the G1 phase of the cell cycle. It also was constimulatory with low-m.w. BCGF and with an antibody to a 50-Kd polypeptide, Bp50, which mediates a BCGF-like activity. Results of kinetic experiments and analysis of different B cell fractions suggested that anti-CD22 acts during an early phase of B cell activation, probably by amplifying the anti-Ig signal. F(ab')2 fragments of anti-CD22 HD6 were as effective as the whole antibody in inducing augmentation of B cell proliferation, showing that the Fc portion of the molecule was not required for the activity. The results of these experiments, together with the intriguing distribution of the Bp 130/140 antigen in B cell ontogeny, suggest that this molecule plays an important role in the process that leads to B cell activation and proliferation.

A new monoclonal antibody Ki-B3 produced by a fusion with leukemic cells of a centroblastic/centrocytic lymphoma (m.l. follicular) is introduced. This antibody predominantly recognizes B cells of follicular mantle and germinal center cells, as well as plasma cells in normal lymphoid tissue. Furthermore, 80% of all low- and high-grade B cell lymphomas are stained, whereas among T cell lymphomas, only four of 15 T lymphoblastic lymphomas were positive to Ki-B3. All peripheral T cell lymphomas showed a negative reaction. Additionally, Ki-B3 detects a small percentage of monocytes and some myelomonocytic leukemias. All epithelial tissues as well as all sarcomas tested were invariably negative. Ki-B3 precipitates a 220 kiloDalton (kD) molecular weight antigen similar to the leukocyte common antigen. Presumably Ki-B3 detects a subtype of the leukocyte common antigen that is predominantly expressed on mature and immature B cells. As the antigen is formalin resistant, Ki-B3 can be used in routine hematology on paraffin sections for the detection and differential diagnosis of B cell lymphomas.

An epithelial cell surface antigen is described which is defined by monoclonal antibody HEA125 (IgG1). The antibody was raised against the colon carcinoma cell line HT-29. Under reducing conditions HEA125 immunoprecipitates a surface glycoprotein of Mr 34,000 which was designated Egp34. The antigen does not contain disulfide-linked subunits. A slightly different migration behavior under non-reducing conditions (Mr 39,000) may be due to intrachain disulfide bonds. After enzymatic cleavage of N-linked carbohydrate residues the apparent molecular weight of the antigen was 29,000. Egp34 is a major cell surface component of HT-29 cells (10(6) molecules per cell). No antigen could be detected in the sera of colorectal cancer patients. A panel of malignant cell lines and normal cells was studied for surface expression of the antigen. 17/17 carcinoma lines of 6 different origins expressed the antigen, whereas 16/16 melanoma, neuroblastoma, sarcoma and lymphoma/leukaemia were unreactive as it was the case for normal fibroblasts and blood cells. Immunoperoxidase staining of frozen tissue sections with HEA125 demonstrated the presence of Egp34 in almost all normal epithelia and tumours derived therefrom. No reactivity with non-epithelial tissues was observed. Undifferentiated carcinomas of various origins homogeneously expressed Egp34. Therefore, HEA125 may become a valuable tool for the immunohistochemical diagnosis of carcinoma.

Monoclonal antibodies to murine lymphocyte differentiation antigens were generated by fusing the mouse myeloma cell line X63-Ag8.653 with spleen cells derived from Lewis rats hyperimmunized with lymphoid cells from nude (C57BL/6) mice. One of these antibodies--designated 3MB1--recognizes a previously undescribed cell surface antigen. This antigen is expressed on 62% of spleen cells, 9% of thymus cells, and 98% of peritoneal macrophages. Virtually all LPS- and Con A-induced lymphoblasts carry this newly found antigen. The 3MB1 determinant is limited in its expression to leukocytes. It is not found in other tissues such as brain, liver, kidney, or on erythrocytes. Biochemical analysis reveals that the 3MB1 target antigen consists of a single chain glycoprotein with an approximate m.w. of 90,000.

The B cell-restricted antigen HD39, whose cell surface expression is limited to resting and activated human B lymphocytes, is described in this report. The monoclonal antibody HD39 detects a two-chain glycoprotein with apparent molecular weights of 130,000 and 140,000. During B cell ontogeny, HD39 is first expressed in the cytoplasm of bone marrow derived pre-B cells, then appears on the cell surface of sIgM+ B cells, and finally on the majority of sIgM+ sIgD+ resting B cells. After activation in vitro, the expression of HD39 on the cell surface first increases, and then the antigen is lost as cells begin to differentiate. HD39 is weakly expressed on very few non-T cell ALL and B cell CLL, on approximately 50% of B cell lymphomas, and not on Waldenström's macroglobulinemias and myelomas. In contrast, it is strongly expressed on all hairy cell leukemias. Its limited cell surface expression in B cell ontogeny suggests that HD39 may be important in the events that regulate the activation of the human resting B lymphocytes.