Establishment of monoclonal antibodies against human nerve growth factor

We have generated and characterized a monoclonal antibody to human nerve growth factor (hNGF). The monoclonal antibody NGFA-133 neutralizes hNGF activity, as assayed by neurite-outgrowth of nerve cells from chick embryonal dorsal root ganglion. Using this antibody, we have developed a sensitive and specific two-site enzyme immunoassay (EIA) system for hNGF. The assay is based on a sandwiching of the antigen between NGFA-133 coated on a microtiter plate and the same monoclonal antibody (NGFA-133) conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The two-site EIA was sensitive enough to detect 920 fg/well of hNGF and did not cross-react either human neurotrophin-3 (hNT-3) or sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) denatured hNGF.