title: Characterisation of monoclonal antibodies to human IL-4: application in an IL-4 ELISA and differential inhibition of IL-4 bioactivity on B cells and T cells.
abstract: Five murine monoclonal antibodies, raised against E. coli derived human IL-4, were established. All mAb were also reactive with natural IL-4. Competition ELISA experiments revealed that mAb 1,2 and 4 recognized a related epitope on IL-4. mAb 5 and mAb 6 recognized another epitope. Two non-competing mAb were used to develop a sandwich IL-4 ELISA. mAb 5 was used for coating and biotinylated mAb I was used as the second antibody. Intra- and interassay-coefficients were 3.3 and 10.1% respectively. The ELISA is specific for IL-4, rapid and sensitive (the detection limit is 2 pg/ml). The capacities of the antibodies to inhibit IL-4 activity were tested in B cell and T cell assays. All antibodies inhibited IL-4 dependent IgE production by human B lymphocytes. A similar inhibition of IL-4 driven T cell proliferation by the antibodies was observed, with the exception that mAb 4 did not affect the activity of IL-4 on T cells. These results led to the suggestion that B cells make use of another (additional) IL-4 receptor chain.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory of the Netherlands Red Cross Blood, Transfusion Service (CLB), Amsterdam.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van der Pouw Kraan
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rensink
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aarden
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4