[Immunoglobulin G monoclonal human anti-rhesus Rho(D) to prevent rhesus-incompatibility]

RhD immunisation which follows pregnancy can be prevented by administration to the rhesus-negative mother of 20 micrograms anti-D immunoglobulin per 1 ml of D-positive fetal red cells in the maternal circulation. With the aim of substitution of polyclonal anti-D with monoclonal one we developed human-mouse cell lines producing anti-RhD IgG1 by fusing EBV-transformed human immune lymphocytes with murine myeloma. After several clonings and passages the EBV genome was eliminated from the cell lines. The antibodies were purified from culture supernatants using protein A affinity chromatography and tested for sterility, virus contamination, pyrogenecity, toxicity and DNA content. The monoclonals were compared with the standard polyclonal anti-RhD in in vitro and in vivo assays. In antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity (ADCC) 2 of 4 studied monoclonals promoted greater RBS lysis than polyclonal anti-D at equivalent concentrations. Detection of binding site number of monoclonals anti-D revealed about 10,000/RBS D-determinants on DCe/dce erythrocyte which agrees with the data for polyclonal anti-D. Best in ADCC monoclonal anti-D sharply increased human autologous 51Cr-labelled rbc sensitised in vitro as well as accelerated clearance of RhD RBS from circulation of Rh-negative volunteers injected with 150 micrograms monoclonal anti-D. After clinical trial using of monoclonal anti-D is permitted in Russia.