HUMAN-IGA MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES SPECIFIC FOR RAGWEED POLLEN ANTIGEN

Human hybridoma cell lines secreting IgG specific for the major allerg en in the pollen of short ragweed, Amb a I, were established from pati ents who had been receiving antigen injections for immunotherapy. Reco mbinant Ig genes were then constructed by cloning the heavy and light chain variable region genes of the human hybridoma cell line and joini ng them to the human alpha or kappa constant region genes in mammalian expression vectors. Amb a I-specific IgA was expressed in two mouse m yeloma cell lines, NS0 and Sp2/0. In both systems, transfected alpha a nd kappa chains were assembled into IgA monomers or into dimers covale ntly linked by the endogenous murine J chains. We propose that recombi nant IgA monoclonal antibodies specific for airborne allergens may be applied to the mucosal surface of the nasal linings or of the lower ai rway of sensitized individuals to inhibit the entry of allergenic mole cules across the mucosal epithelium and, therefore, to prevent the dev elopment of allergic responses.