An immunocytochemical/histochemical approach to tracheobronchial mucus characterization in the rabbit

Monoclonal antibodies have been made against components of rabbit respiratory mucous secretions, and these were used to localize secretory products in the respiratory epithelium by immunocytochemical methods. The antigen recognized by one antibody was localized within granules of mucous cells containing sulfated glycoprotein. This antibody also reacted with the ciliated surface layer of upper respiratory airways and mucous cells of colonic epithelium. However, only a subset of respiratory mucous cells containing sulfated glycoprotein, as determined by histochemistry, reacted with this monoclonal antibody. Other antibodies also recognized antigens on the ciliated surface of the rabbit respiratory tree but not in intracellular mucus. Thus, a library of monoclonal antibodies made against respiratory mucous secretions should represent an effective approach to defining the mucous lining of normal and diseased respiratory airways.