PRODUCTION OF ANTIFIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES BY INVITRO IMMUNIZATION

Monoclonal antibodies against the high affinity tyrosine kinase Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) receptor may help define receptor epitopes involved in FGF binding and signal transduction which mediate coronary and tumor angiogenesis (the development of blood vessels). Monoclonal antibodies against the FGF receptor were made by in vitro immunization. Receptor was PAGE-purified and transblotted to nitrocellulose. The nitrocellulose was dissolved with acetonitrile, and the receptor used as antigen in an in vitro immunization system. Screening for FGF receptor positive clones was done using membrane preparations from Coronary Venular Endothelial Cells (CVEC) expressing the FGF receptor, both by Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) and Western blot. Culture supernatants of several clones tested positive for IgM or IgG monoclonal antibodies against the FGF receptor. Antibodies were affinity purified. Ascites fluid was produced in Balb/c mice primed with incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFR). The monoclonal antibodies were also found to be suitable for receptor immunoprecipitation. Immunocytochemistry was done on sections from a variety of species. Further characterization of these antibodies, as well as the production of the remainder of a panel of anti-FGF receptor monoclonal antibodies, is underway.