THE PRODUCTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF A NEW MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODY TO THE TREFOIL PEPTIDE HUMAN SPASMOLYTIC POLYPEPTIDE

Human spasmolytic polypeptide (hSP) is a member of the growing family of trefoil peptides which are expressed in discrete regions of the bod y, most notably the gastrointestinal tract. Much of the research into the localization of the spasmolytic polypeptide has relied on hybridiz ation in situ to detect its mRNA, due to the absence of a suitable ant ibody. The aim of the present study was to develop and characterize a monoclonal antibody against the human spasmolytic polypeptide, using a combination of immunohistochemistry and hybridization in situ. After immunoblotting, the antibody detected a 14 kDa protein in gastrointest inal tissue extracts from the stomach and small intestine only. Using immunohistochemistry, human spasmolytic polypeptide showed a distincti ve staining pattern in the duodenum which co-localized with its mRNA. The co-localization of the immunoreactive peptide with its mRNA provid es good evidence that the antibody truly recognized human spasmolytic polypeptide.