The production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to a human colonic antigen associated with ulcerative colitis: cellular localization of the antigen by using the monoclonal antibody.

We detected in human colon extracts a 40 kDa protein(s) that specifically reacts with tissue-bound IgG obtained from the colon of patients with ulcerative colitis or CCA-IgG. Using the hybridoma technology, we developed monoclonal antibodies to this 40 kDa protein. The specific immunoreactivity of one of the monoclonal antibodies (7E12H12, IgM isotype) against the 40 kDa protein was demonstrated both by ELISA and by immunotransblot. Competitive binding experiments showed that CCA-IgG inhibits the binding of 7E12H12 to the 40 kDa protein, suggesting the recognition of common epitope(s) on the 40 kDa protein by the monoclonal antibody and CCA-IgG. 7E12H12 was used to determine cellular localization of the 40 kDa protein. Biopsy tissue specimens from colon, esophagus, stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, liver, pancreas, lungs, kidneys, salivary, and mammary glands were obtained. Tissue specimens were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde or in 10% formalin. Sections were sequentially incubated with the hybridoma supernatant, biotinylated anti-mouse IgM, avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex, and 3,3'-diaminobenzidine. An unrelated hybridoma supernatant was used as control. The monoclonal antibody exclusively recognized colonic epithelial cells both in the crypt and on the luminal surface. Immunoreactivity was present on the plasma membrane chiefly along the basolateral areas of the cells. Plasma membrane localization of the 40 kDa protein was confirmed by immunoelectron microscopy. All colonic mucosal biopsy specimens from both adult and fetal colon reacted with the monoclonal antibody. None of the biopsy specimens from stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, liver, pancreas, or non-gastrointestinal tissue reacted with the antibody, confirming the organ specificity of the 40 kDa protein. The interaction between this colonic epithelial membrane protein and the CCA-IgG may play an important role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis.