PREPARATION OF A MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY TO A GLYCIDIC EPITOPE OF THE EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR RECEPTOR THAT RECOGNIZES INHIBITORS OF ASTROCYTE PROLIFERATION AND REACTIVE MICROGLIA

A mouse monoclonal antibody (5B9), directed against a carbohydrate epi tope of human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), recognized an 8 1-kDalton glycoprotein in buffer-soluble and detergent-solubilized rat brain extracts (BE), The glycoprotein was more abundant in extracts p repared from injured brain than in those from normal tissue, Removal f rom BE of the antigens recognized by 5B9 increased their astrocyte mit ogenic activity, Sections of injured rat brain and cultures derived fr om damaged brain, enriched in microglia, showed 5B9 immunoreactivity i n ED1-positive cells, The abundance of the glycoprotein recognized by 5B9 in injured, relative to normal, tissue, suggested that molecules w ith EGFR immunoreactivity may be expressed in reactive microglial cell s and released after injury, (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.