Antigenic relatedness between phospholipases A2 from Naja naja venom and from mammalian cells

Polyclonal antiserum was prepared against phospholipase A2 from Naja naja and used to prepare a purified antibody. It cross-reacted with the antigen, and with intracellular mammalian PLA2. This antibody was immunoreactive and inhibited the PLA2 activity of Naja naja and of guinea pig alveolar macrophages or rat lymphocytes. By immunoblotting, this antiserum revealed one band of PLA2 from Naja naja (14 kDa) and 3 bands for guinea pig alveolar macrophages and rat lymphocytes (30, 45 kDa and a minor band of 14 kDa). These results show an antigenic relatedness between an extracellular PLA2 and membrane-bound PLA2 from two different mammalian species and cell types.