title: Immunochemical characterization of the Rh CW antigen using human monoclonal antibodies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Human monoclonal antibodies have been produced against various Rh antigens. We report here the production of another one against Rh C and the first such antibody against Rh CW.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two heterohybridomas secreting IgG human monoclonal antibodies against Rh CW and Rh C (MS-353 and MS-242 respectively) were produced from alloimmunized donors. Their specificity was confirmed by serological testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MS-353 reacted with all CW-positive phenotypes but not with any CW-negative phenotypes, whereas MS-242 reacted with all CW-positive and C-positive phenotypes. Using 125I-labelled antibodies, the average number of CW sites/red cell was 32,000 (R1WR1W, 15,200 (R1WR1), 19,800 (R1WR2), 15,300 (R1Wr), 26,200 (r'Wr), and the average number of C sites per red cell on equivalent CW/C-positive phenotypes was similar: 22,400 (R1R1), 21,800 (R1WR1), 12,300 (R1R2), 11,700 (R1WR2), 13,400 (R1r), 15,100 (R1Wr), 21,100 (r'r), 18,700 (r'Wr). MS-353 and MS-242 were mutually inhibitory. Both antibodies specifically immunoprecipitated a 33- to 34-kD polypeptide from 125I-surface-labelled cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MS-353 is suitable for the serological detection of CW-positive cells, and the immunochemical data are entirely consistent with the report that the CW antigen is associated with a point mutation in the RHCE gene [Blood, 1995;86:1196-1201].
authors.affiliation: National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms, Potters Bar, UK. sthorpe@nibsc.ac.uk
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Thorpe
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Boult
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Thompson
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D006801:Humans; D007120:Immunochemistry; D007519:Isoantigens / Q000097:blood*; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007519:Isoantigens; D012204:Rh-Hr Blood-Group System