title: Human IgA monoclonal antibodies specific for a major ragweed pollen antigen.
abstract: Human hybridoma cell lines secreting IgG specific for the major allergen in the pollen of short ragweed, Amb a I, were established from patients who had been receiving antigen injections for immunotherapy. Recombinant Ig genes were then constructed by cloning the heavy and light chain variable region genes of the human hybridoma cell line and joining them to the human alpha or kappa constant region genes in mammalian expression vectors. Amb a I-specific IgA was expressed in two mouse myeloma cell lines, NS0 and Sp2/0. In both systems, transfected alpha and kappa chains were assembled into IgA monomers or into dimers covalently linked by the endogenous murine J chains. We propose that recombinant IgA monoclonal antibodies specific for airborne allergens may be applied to the mucosal surface of the nasal linings or of the lower airway of sensitized individuals to inhibit the entry of allergenic molecules across the mucosal epithelium and, therefore, to prevent the development of allergic responses.
authors.affiliation: Tanox Biosystems, Inc., Houston, Texas 77025, USA.
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Fung
authors.forename: W N
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D000941:Antigens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000628:therapy; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000276:immunology*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*; D011485:Protein Binding; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000941:Antigens; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D011994:Recombinant Proteins