| Abstract |
The development of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) has offered the
opportunity of studying the distribution, structure and function of T
lymphocyte membrane antigens. Over the past years a series of molecules
present on the T lymphocyte have been defined by mouse MAbs; some have
been shown to be associated with T lymphocyte function. For instance, T
cell antigen receptor complex (Ti-T3) is recognized by CD3 MAbs (e.g.
OKT3) and by WT31; the receptor for Interleukin-2 is recognized by CD25
MAbs (e.g., TAC); and the T lymphocyte receptor for sheep erythrocytes
(E-receptor), which has recently been proposed as a ligand for LFA-3, is
recognized by CD2 MAbs (e.g., OKT11). Some antibodies to T-lymphocytes
mimic the effect of natural ligands or of antigen stimulation: OKT3 and
WT31 activate T lymphocytes through the T cell antigen receptor complex.
Certain combinations of CD2 MAbs activate T lymphocytes through an
alternative pathway.8CD4 and CD8 MAbs (e.g., OKT4 and OKT8), define
distinct subpopulations of T lymphocytes. The antigen defined by CD4 MAbs
is mainly expressed on T-helper cells and seems to recognize MHC class II
gene products, while antigen defined by CD8 MAbs is mainly expressed on T
suppressor/cytotoxic cells and seems to recognize MHC class I antigens.
We were interested in producing anti-human T lymphocyte MAbs in the
rat model because of the difference in immune repertoire between rat and
mouse. Moreover, because large quantities of rat MAb are easily produced
and purified and because some rat Ig isotypes have been shown to fix human
complement and to activate human killer cells, rat MAbs are attractive
reagents for clinical therapeutic use. Here, we report five rat MAbs
specific for human T lymphocytes.
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