Ke. Kilpatrick et al., Gene gun delivered DNA-based immunizations mediate rapid production of murine monoclonal antibodies to the Fit-3 receptor, HYBRIDOMA, 17(6), 1998, pp. 569-576
Class-switched, affinity-matured murine monoclonal antibody (MAb)-producing
cell. lines were generated against the Flt-3 receptor in less than 4 weeks
following polynucleotide immunizations, used in conjunction with repetitiv
e immunizations, multiple sites (RIMMS), Plasmid DNA encoding Flt-3/Fc was
coated onto gold particles, which were subsequently propelled into the epid
ermis of mice using biolistic particle bombardment using the Accell gene gu
n. Pools of immune peripheral lymph node cells were somatically fused 13 da
ys after the onset of delivery of DNA encoding the target antigen. To deter
mine if early responses could be augmented, DNA-encoding murine GM-CSF was
delivered 3 days prior to the Flt-3/Fc DNA immunizations. The data presente
d demonstrates the successful identification and characterization of class-
switched, affinity-matured MAbs that bind to the Flt-3 receptor. When compa
red to conventional methodologies or intramuscular targeted DNA-based immun
ization for the generation of MAbs, use of the gene gun in conjunction with
RIMMS allows for a more rapid production of affinity-matured MAb-producing
cell lines.