Monoclonal antibodies to antigens expressed by hematopoietic facilitatory cells

Abstract

The present invention relates to monoclonal antibodies (MAb) to hematopoietic facilitatory cells (FC). In particular, it relates to MAb against antigens expressed by murine FC, methods of generating the antibodies, and methods of using the same. MAb directed to markers that are expressed specifically or at higher levels by FC than by most other bone marrow cells have a wide range of applications, including but not limited to, rapid isolation of FC, identification of FC in a donor cell preparation, and molecular cloning of the genes encoding the corresponding target antigens.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A monoclonal antibody, the antigen-binding region of which competitively inhibits the immunospecific binding of monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma R7.6.2 having an ATCC accession number ______ to its target epitope.  
     
     
         2 . A monoclonal antibody, the antigen-binding region of which competitively inhibits the immunospecific binding of monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma R340.3.1 having an ATCC accession number ______ to its target epitope.  
     
     
         3 . A monoclonal antibody, the antigen-binding region of which competitively inhibits the immunospecific binding of monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma R373.6.3 having an ATCC accession number HB11507 to its target epitope.  
     
     
         4 . Monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma R.7.6.2 as deposited with the ATCC.  
     
     
         5 . Monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma R340.3.1 as deposited with the ATCC.  
     
     
         6 . Monoclonal antibody produced by hybridoma R373.6.3 as deposited with the ATCC.  
     
     
         7 . A method of generating monoclonal antibodies to antigens expressed by hematopoietic facilitatory cells comprising immunizing an animal with homogenized brain tissue, fusing spleen cells from the animal with a fusion partner cell line, and selecting fused cells which secrete antibodies capable of depleting facilitatory cells.