Production of human allotype-specific anti-CD45 monoclonal antibodies

The aim of this work was to raise allotype specific monoclonal antibodies to human CD45, with the long-term objective of producing a reagent which could be used to prolong graft survival in renal transplantation through removal of passenger leukocytes from the graft. At present there are no anti-CD45 monoclonal antibodies able to distinguish between host and donor leukocytes. An in vitro immunisation technique has been developed through which donated human leukocytes are sensitised to CD45 prior to fusion with a myeloma cell line. IgM was produced by all the anti-CD45-positive clones. Flow cytometric analysis using these antibodies showed their ability to differentiate between blood from individual donors, indicating the existence of allotypic forms of human CD45, in conformity with the findings in rats and pigs. Therefore, a reagent which could be used in renal transplantation is a technical possibility.