Selection of BoCD25 monoclonal antibodies by screening mouse L cells transfected with the bovine p55-interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor gene.

The bovine interleukin-2 receptor-alpha (IL-2R alpha) gene has been isolated and a rabbit antiserum against a fusion protein of the gene has been produced. However, the antiserum does not inhibit IL-2-dependent proliferation. Since a panel of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to bovine activation antigens was available, we transfected the gene into mouse L fibroblasts, selected stable transfectants with the rabbit antiserum, and screened for antibodies that bound the transfected cells but not the untransfected cells. Three mAb were selected and all three precipitated a molecule of M(r) 55,000 (under reducing conditions) from activated cells, as expected from homology with mouse and human IL-2R alpha (CD25, Tac). One of the three mAb was a strong inhibitor of IL-2-dependent proliferation of bovine lymphocytes. Thus, the availability of transfected cells allowed us to establish quickly and unequivocally the antigenic specificity of a number of antibodies.