Production of human allotype-specific anti-CD45 monoclonal antibodies

The aim of this work was to raise allotype specific monoclonal antibodies t o human CD45, with the long-term objective of producing a reagent which cou ld be used to prolong graft survival in renal transplantation through remov al of passenger leukocytes from the graft. At present there are no anti-CD4 5 monoclonal antibodies able to distinguish between host and donor leukocyt es. An in vitro immunisation technique has been developed through which don ated human leukocytes are sensitised to CD45 prior to fusion with a myeloma cell line. IgM was produced by all the anti-CD45-positive clones. Flow cyt ometric analysis using these antibodies showed their ability to differentia te between blood from individual donors, indicating the existence of alloty pic forms of human CD45, in conformity with the findings in rats and pigs. Therefore, a reagent which could be used in renal transplantation is a tech nical possibility. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.