A new monoclonal antibody (A46-B/B10) highly specific for the blood group H type 2 epitope: generation, epitope analysis, serological and histological evaluation.

A monoclonal antibody recognizing the blood group H type 2 antigen has been obtained from a BALB/c mouse immunized with MCF-7 (human mammary carcinoma) cells. The specificity of this antibody (A46-B/B10, IgM, kappa) has been identified by haemagglutination tests, immunohistochemistry, binding inhibition studies, and absorption experiments performed with synthetic oligosaccharides. The antibody is virtually nonreactive with H type 1 antigen or with closely related type 2 structures (e.g., Y antigen). A46-B/B10 strongly agglutinates human erythrocytes according to the amount of H substance expressed and can, therefore, easily discriminate between blood groups A1 and A2 as well as A1B and A2B (A1 and A1B are not or only weakly agglutinated). In immunohistochemistry, this antibody seems to provide a highly specific reagent for a restricted number of carcinomas and epithelial lineages in tissue sections and in vitro.