Expression of a human monoclonal anti-HIV-1 antibody in CHO cells.

The cDNA coding for the light and heavy chains, respectively, of the human monoclonal antibody 3D6 (IgG1, kappa), which binds specifically to human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) gp41, was inserted into three different mammalian expression vectors and transfected into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. Transcription was under the control of Rous sarcoma virus long terminal repeat (RSV LTR), human cytomegalovirus major immediate early (CMV IE) promoter, and mouse mammary tumor virus long terminal repeat (MMTV LTR), respectively. Antibody productivity was monitored in the supernatants of selected clones. The binding characteristics of the CHO-derived antibody to HIV-1 gp41 were found to be identical to that of the original antibody produced by hybridoma cells.