Monoclonal antibodies to benzodiazepines

Four hybridoma lines secreting monoclonal antibodies to benzodiazepines were produced after BALB/c mice were immunized with a benzodiazepine-bovine serum albumin conjugate. The monoclonal antibodies were purified from ascites fluids, and their binding affinities for benzodiazepines and other benzodiazepine receptor ligands were determined. These antibodies have very high binding affinities for diazepam, flunitrazepam, Ro5-4864, Ro5-3453, Ro11-6896, and Ro5-3438 (the KD values are in the 10(-9) M range). However, these antibodies have low affinities for the benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonists (beta-carbolines) and antagonists (Ro15-1788 and CGS-8216).