Serological and chemical specificities of twelve monoclonal anti-Lea and anti-Leb antibodies.

The serological specificities of twelve hybridomas were compared as to their chemical reactivity as determined using direct binding to synthetic carbohydrate structures. All anti-Lea cross-react with type-1-precursor structures and three different variants of anti-Lea could be defined by their binding to type-3-precursor chains, sialylated compounds and the monosaccharide D-galactose. Three major reactivity patterns were also identified among anti-Leb reagents. Anti-LebL cross-react with Lea and do not significantly bind to H-related structures. Anti-LebH,L had both anti-LebL-like activity (cross-reaction with Lea) and anti-LebH-like activity (cross-reaction with H). Finally, anti-LebH cross-reacts strongly with H compounds and do not bind to Lea. The binding pattern of anti-LebL suggests that these antibodies have lower affinity for ALeb and BLeb pentasaccharides than anti-LebH. All these specificities are not absolute, but rather are expressed as members of a quantitative progressive varying series, suggesting the existence of a whole range of antibody specificities gradually changing from Lea----Lea,b----LebL----LebH,L----LebH. The results suggest that anti-LebL will always cross-react with Lea and that anti-LebH will always cross-react with H related structures. However, under certain well-defined conditions these cross-reactions may not be apparent and antibodies might behave as specific anti-Lea or anti-Leb in certain tests.