MOUSE ANTI-MOUSE IGD MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES GENERATED IN IGD-DEFICIENTMICE

The production of high-affinity monoclonal antibodies (mABs) is genera lly restricted to antigens recognised as foreign by the immune system. Here we report the generation of mouse mABs specific for mouse IgD. M ice rendered IgD-deficient by gene targeting and consequently immunolo gically fully responsive to mouse IgD, were used to elicit a humoral r esponse against mouse IgD. Hybridomas producing mABs of high affinity were isolated and clones specific for non-allotypic determinants on th e Fc or Fab portion of mouse IgD were obtained. The data show that mic e lacking a protein of interest due to targeted gene inactivation can be utilised for the production of high-affinity mABs specific for that mouse protein and should also facilitate the generation of mABs speci fic for proteins highly conserved between species.