Monoclonal antibodies directed against human fibroblast interferon: characterization and functional studies

Spleen cells from BALB/c mice, immunized with SDS-acrylamide gel purified human fibroblast interferon (HuIFN-beta) were fused with mouse myeloma cells. Culture fluids from the resulting hybrid cells were screened for HuIFN-beta specificity by the following tests: a solid-phase RIA using partially purified HuIFN-beta, a protein-transfer RIA using electrophoretically resolved and immobilized HuIFN-beta, and a bioassay which tests residual HuIFN-beta activity in the supernatant following immunoprecipitation. Six HuIFN-beta-specific hybridomas were identified; two were capable of partially neutralizing HuIFN-beta activity. All six antibodies bind to the beta 1-IFN polypeptide synthesized in E. coli cells containing a cloned beta 1-IFN DNA sequence. All six monoclonal antibodies were found to be IgG3/kappa.