Immunopurification of human coagulation factor IX using monoclonal antibodies

This study examines the suitability of four recently characterised monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) for the immunoaffinity purification of human coagulation factor IX (FIX) from plasma concentrates. Initial studies using 125I-FIX indicated that appreciable amounts of bound FIX could be eluted from immobilised MAbs with 0.2 M glycine, 50% ethanediol pH 10 (buffer N). Further studies with FIX concentrates showed that buffer N eluted FIX without compromising the activity of the zymogen. Although FIX was eluted from all four MAbs with this buffer, the best yield (82%) was obtained with MAb ESN-3. ESN-3 bound 40 to 60 iu FIX per mg MAb when immobilised on Sepharose 4B. After washing, column elution with buffer N yielded FIX at 100-200 iu/mg. The purity of the product was confirmed by sodium-dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and by Western blotting. The product contained no detectable mouse IgG (less than 3%) and less than 1% FII, X, or protein C.