Purification to homogeneity of a high molecular weight human B cell growth factor; demonstration of specific binding to activated B cells; and development of a monoclonal antibody to the factor.
High molecular weight B cell growth factor (HMW-BCGF) produced by a T cell line was purified to homogeneity and demonstrated to bind specifically to activated human B cells. A monoclonal antibody to HMW-BCGF was developed that (a) specifically inhibited the activity of HMW-BCGF in enhancing B cell proliferation, (b) specifically bound to HMW-BCGF in Western blots, (c) specifically absorbed HMW-BCGF activity from culture supernatants, and (d) specifically absorbed an internally labeled protein from T-ALL supernatant which comigrates with HMW-BCGF on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gels. This antibody should help in cloning the gene for HMW-BCGF and further exploring the physiologic roles of HMW-BCGF.
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008970:Molecular Weight
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D006133:Growth Substances; D008222:Lymphokines; D015847:Interleukin-4