Characterization of novel monoclonal antibodies raised against formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human ameloblastoma

To obtain monoclonal antibodies reactive with odontogenic but not other types of epithelium, mice were immunized with homogenates of fixed ameloblastoma tissues, and monoclonal antibodies Y4 and M11 were produced. Y4 reacted immunohistochemically with odontogenic epithelial components but not with those of squamous differentiation, while M11 reacted with odontogenic epithelial components and a part of keratotic epithelial tissues. Immunoglobulin isotypes of both antibodies were IgM as determined by Ouchterlony immunodiffusion and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Western blotting revealed that the antigen recognized by Y4 had a molecular mass of approximately 66 kDa; however, the antigen reactive with M11 was not identified by Western blotting in spite of various attempts in changing reaction conditions. These antibodies may be beneficial to histological analyses of odontogenic tissues and their related lesions.