Characterization of monoclonal antibodies against integrin alpha V beta 5

A panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against the human integrin alpha V beta 5 has been generated. Mice were immunized using human alpha V beta 5 purified from placenta. Two hundred hybridoma clones were screened by ELISA and 14 were found to react with purified integrin alpha V beta 5. Here we characterize the monoclonal antibodies secreted by three clones, 14H4, 6B9, and 15F11. Two of these antibodies, 6B9 and 15F11, are highly specific for integrin alpha V beta 5. These two antibodies do not bind the highly homologous integrin alpha V beta 3. The binding of 6B9 and 15F11 to integrin alpha V beta 5 is not influenced by ligand nor by divalent cation. Antibody 14H4, obtained in the same fusion, recognizes the alpha v subunit.