A method for the accurate determination of the specificity of monoclonal antibodies reactive with porcine immunoglobulins

The potential of molecular biology for the production of monoclonal antibodies derived from outbred veterinary animals

The protein structure of immunoglobulins and the genetics on the regulation of immunoglobulin expression are reviewed. This basic knowledge has led to the development of systems to produce monoclonal antibodies in eukaryotic or prokaryotic cells. The potential and limitations of molecular biology for the understanding of immunoglobulin regulation and for the production of monoclonal antibodies derived from animals of veterinary importance are discussed.

Porcine lymphoblastoid cell lines of B-cell origin

Two lymphoblastoid cell lines were isolated from different pigs and were maintained in culture for over 100 passages or 20 months. These cell lines were characterized by their cell surface antigens, ability to stimulate a mixed lymphocyte reaction and production of immunoglobulin. When tested against a panel of monoclonal anti-cell surface antigen antibodies, only those monoclonal antibodies which detect porcine class I or II molecules reacted against the lymphoblastoid cell lines in a microcytotoxicity assay. The two pig cell lines could stimulate peripheral blood mononuclear cells in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. P-SC(1) and P-16(2) also demonstrated a dependency upon the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol for cell division. The secretion of pig immunoglobulin by P-SC(1) or P-16(2) was first demonstrated by ELISA using a polyclonal anti-swine IgG (heavy and light chain) serum. By the use of monoclonal anti-IgA, IgG or IgM antibodies in an enzyme-linked assay on Western blots of P-SC(1) or P-16(2) lysate/supernatant, the two cell lines were demonstrated to be producing a whole monomeric IgA molecule and a mu chain.