IMMUNE-RESPONSE TO PROGESTERONE INVOLVED IN CU2-MEDIATED POLYANION-PROTEIN COMPLEX - ANTIGEN-SPECIFICITY AND AFFINITY OF HYBRIDOMA CLONES()

The immunogenic properties of water soluble (PAA-Cu2+-BSA) and colloid al (PAA-Cu2+-BSA.P) polycomplexes were investigated, and the specifici ty of antibodies produced was analyzed. Polycomplexes containing proge sterone appeared to possess a high steroid-specific immunogenic activi ty. A comparative study of immunogenic properties of polycomplexes ver sus BSA.P + incomplete Freund's adjuvant (IFA) mixtures revealed diffe rences in regards to the specificity of antibody production. In contra st to the IFA system, polycomplexes were able to generate P- as well a s BSA-specific antibodies. Such a response is determined, possibly, by increases in the immunogenicity of weak antigenic determinants on the surface of protein globules and/or by the representation of 'dormant' determinants existing in the inner site upon complex formation with p olyelectrolytes. Finally, using a short immunization procedure based o n use of PAA-Cu2+-BSA polycomplexes, we produced seven monoclonal anti bodies against progesterone included in polyelectrolyte complexes with affinities K-d ranging between 1.3 x 10(-7) and 9 x 10(-8) M.