Detection of antigen-specific human serum proteins related to the T-cell receptor in infectious disease and in an immune response to milk proteins or chemicals

A monoclonal IgG2 antibody, MG3C9-1 A12, was prepared by immunization of mice with human serum Cohn Fraction III proteins enriched for TCR Ca(+) proteins. MG3C9-1 A12 bound to Mr 28,000, antigen-specific TCR Ca(+), beta-, and TCR Ca(+), beta(+) serum proteins associated with TGF-beta 1, 2, The IgG2 monoclonal antibody also bound to T-lymphocyte proteins but did not bind to a lymphocyte proteins, human albumin, IgM, IgG, IgA, or TGF-beta 1, 2, 3 immunogenic peptides, Monoclonal MG3C9-1 A12 detected TCR-related proteins specific for filarial extract, milk proteins, or benzoic acid in the sera of individuals with chronic or asymptomatic filariasis, milk intolerance, or sensitivity to toluene, respectively. TCR-related serum proteins were also detected intracellularly in mononuclear cells in frozen sections of ileum from a patient with milk intolerance end reactive mesenteric lymph nodes from a patient with a gastric ulcer. The results suggest that antigen-specific TCR-related serum proteins may be elevated during an immune response to oral, environmental, or infectious stimuli.