Monoclonal antibodies against human tetranectin, epitope characterization and use in immunohistochemistry

Two IgG2a/kappa- and three IgG1/kappa monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were produced against human tetranectin (TN): this is the first report of stable hybridomas producing MAbs against TN. All the MAbs reacted with non-conformational epitopes located within amino acid residues 50-181 of the primary sequence. In relative epitope mapping with enzyme immunoassay and isotachophoresis the five MAbs defined two independent epitope groups. One of them is suggested to be immunodominant in rabbits, since MAbs inhibited binding of a polyclonal rabbit antibody. Several combinations of MAbs were suitable for TN-ELISA and two MAbs could be used for immunohistochemical detection of TN in both fresh frozen and paraffin-embedded tissues. The MAbs will facilitate future studies on structure, function, clinical significance and immunolocalization of TN.