Monoclonal antibodies to axolotl immunoglobulins specific for different heavy chains isotypes expressed by independent lymphocyte subpopulations.
An immunoblotting analysis of purified axolotl immunoglobulins (Ig) separated by SDS-PAGE reveals two heavy (H) chains isotypes: a 76 kDA chain recognized by the monoclonal antibody (mAb) 33.45.1 and a 66-68 kDa doublet recognized by the mAb 33.39.2. The 76 kDa chain is associated to high molecular weight (HMW) Ig molecules and the 66-68 kDa H chains are associated to low molecular weight (LMW) Ig of 172 kDa. Both H chains isotypes are linked to identical light (L) chains, labelled in immunoblotting by the mAb 33.101.2. Two different axolotl lymphocyte subpopulations are characterized by these two distinct H chains isotypes. One population of splenic lymphocytes (approximately 40%) is labeled by indirect immunofluorescence with mAb 33.45.1, specific for the 76 kDa H chain isotype. Another population (approximately 20%) is labeled by mAb 33.39.2 specific for the 66-68 kDa H chain isotype. Both populations of splenic lymphocytes are stained by mAb 33.101.2 specific for the axolotl L chains. Therefore, the presence of at least two independent Ig classes is now confirmed in a urodele amphibian species at the humoral and cellular levels.
D000557:Ambystoma / Q000276:immunology*; D000558:Ambystoma mexicanum / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000276:immunology*; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000276:immunology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes