PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY EFFECTIVE IN RECOGNIZING THE CD3 T-CELL ASSOCIATED ANTIGEN IN FORMALIN-FIXED EMBEDDED TISSUE

Phenotypic analysis of lymphoproliferative disorders is now considered mandatory for accurate classification which is the basis for optimum patient management, This is presently carried out in most cases using a range of antibodies recognizing B and T-cell antigens effective in p araffin sections, and an antibody to CD3 is currently a key member of such panels, indicating T-cell phenotype, Current antibodies to CD3 ar e polyclonal with the inherent disadvantages of this type of reagent c ompared to monoclonal antibodies, In this study, we have used a recomb inant fusion protein representing part of the epsilon subunit of the C D3 molecule to generate a novel monoclonal antibody (NCL-CD3-PS1) effe ctive in paraffin sections, The antibody has been characterized bioche mically and by immunohistochemistry using a wide range of normal and p athological tissues, Lineage and phenotype specificity have been suppo rted in our study and results from other laboratories are awaited with interest.