ANALYSIS OF MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES REACTIVE WITH MECONIUM-DERIVED AND AMNIOTIC FLUID-DERIVED MUCIN

The present study was undertaken to determine whether monoclonal antib odies (moABs TKH-2, MA54, MA61, B72.3, and CC49) directed toward O-lin ked mucin-type glycoprotein detect the NeuAc alpha 2-6GalNAc (sialyl T n) epitope in meconium- and amniotic fluid-derived mucin. Fetal coloni c mucosal cells express the sialyl Tn antigen, particularly in goblet cell mucin. The reactivities of these moABs with a perchloric acid ext ract of meconium (meconium extract) and different native and neuramini dase treated glycoproteins were examined by solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). All the moABs react with the meconium sup ernatant and meconium extract. The reactivities of TKH-2, MA54, and MA 61 are neuraminidase sensitive, and the reactivity of TKH-2 with mecon ium extract was specifically inhibited by ovine submaxillary mucin (OS M). A NeuAc alpha 2-6GalNAc epitope is the characteristic component in meconium. Mucin released from the fetal respiratory tract could, in p art, provide an alternative source in the amniotic fluid. TKH-2 is the most sensitive antibody directed to sialyl Tn antigen in meconium sup ernatant. The likelihood of TKH-2 serving as the basis for a sensitive assay to detect sialyl Tn in meconium- and amniotic fluid-derived muc in is provided. (C) 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.