Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against pigtailedmacaque (Macaca nemestrina) cell adhesion molecules

Our previous in vitro studies indicate a significant role for cell adhesion molecules in the biology of HIV-1 and HTLV-1. Confirmation of the involvem ent of these molecules in the pathogenesis of retrovirus infection in vivo will require a suitable animal model, The SIV/pigtailed macaque (Macaca nem estrina) model of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is an ideal sys tem in which to study adhesion molecules and viral pathogenesis, The monocl onal antibodies (MAbs) against human adhesion molecules previously produced in our laboratory either do not react with or fail to block function of pi gtailed macaque adhesion molecules. We have used papiovirus-transformed pig tailed macaque B cells as immunogen to generate murine MAbs against macaque adhesion molecules including ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and LFA-1, The specificity of the MAbs was confirmed by immunoprecipitation from lysates; of vectorially iodinated cells, flow cytometry analysis of transfected cell lines and pri mary cells, binding assays on recombinant soluble human VCAM-1 and ICAM-1, and by inhibition of adhesion functions, MAbs against ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 sho wed positive staining of fixed tissue in immunohistochemistry studies. The same antibodies also blocked the function of these two adhesion molecules. The new MAbs can be used to study the tissue expression of adhesion molecul es in SIV-infected animals as well as to test the involvement of these mole cules in virus infection, Thus they should prove invaluable as probes of th e role of cell adhesion molecules in AIDS pathogenesis in an animal model.