Antibody specificity in the immune response to insulin

The immune response to insulin in Balb/c mice has been investigated with regard to the fine specificity of antibodies present during the primary stage of immune responsiveness. Hybridoma technology was used to raise monoclonal antibodies and a solid phase enzyme-linked immunoassay to test their specificity for human, bovine and porcine insulins. Heteroclitic antibodies were observed. These showed greater binding to the cross-reactive bovine and porcine insulins than to the inducing human insulin.