Hybridomas producing syngeneic monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) were prepared by fusion of spleen cells of BALB/c mice, which were immunized with sublethal doses of RMB-I cells. This cell line originates from a Rauscher virus (R-MuLV)-induced myeloid leukemia and forms tumors when re-inoculated into mice. MAbs were characterized as regards their reactivity against virally and non-virally induced cell lines. Two selected MAbs, IC5F5 and 4D2B4, were analyzed further. Their binding to subcellular structures was determined, and so were the properties of the antigens to which they are directed. MAb IC5F5 is of the IgG2A and 4D2B4 of the IgG2b subclass. Both bind to R-MuLV-infected or -transformed cell lines and are not mutually competitive. The antibodies do not react with other murine and human myeloid leukemic cells. As shown by immuno-electron microscopy, these MAbs have affinity to the cell membrane of non-virus producing RMB-I cells. When lysates of purified virus were analyzed, the MAbs were found to be directed to the gag precursor protein Pr65, and one of them (IC5F5) also to be directed to the core protein p12. In RMB-I cells, binding occurs to a 50-kDa glycoprotein and 2 proteins of 26 and 29 kDa. Since RMB-I cells do not produce virus, but express aberrant viral proteins, these MAbs are tumor-specific and useful for immunotherapy.

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