Production of a polyspecific human monoclonal antibody reacting with an epidermal antigen

Abstract

Summary A clone ot cells secreting an antibody to an epidermal antigen was generated from a patient with a blistering skin lesion. Although produced by fusion of human lymphocytes to a HAT-sensitive myeloma, this clone of cells did not have characteristics of a hybridoma. A true hybridoma was produced by fusion of this clone to a HAT"" ouabain"" myeloma line. The IgM antibody secreted by this clone reacted with the intercellular region ofthe epidermis of normal human skin in a manner similar to pemphigus autoantibodies. In addition, in normal human kidney the antibody bound to glomeruli and tubules. It also reacted with an antigen present in the eytoplasm ofa wide \ariety of ceil lines including epithelial, lymphoid and myeloid types. No reaction was found with the surface of any ofthe cell lines, nor with DNA or phospholipid antigens.This monoclonal antibody may defme an autoantibody speeificity which mediates some autoimmune skin lesions. Its polyspecihcity is reminiscent of some other human hybridoma autoantibodies, and its reaction with components ofthe kidney suggests an alternati\e pathology for renal disease in such patients.