Production and immunochemical characterization of mouse monoclonal antibodies to human Lewis blood group structures.

Two mouse monoclonal antibodies with specificity for the Lea blood group determinant of human red cells have been produced by immunising mice with soluble Lewis substance. Both antibodies were of the IgM class and agglutinated only trypsinised or papainised Lea-positive red cells. The precise antigenic conformations recognised by these antibodies have been defined by inhibition studies with monosaccharides, disaccharides and synthetic blood group oligosaccharides. These studies have suggested that the alpha-side of a 1-substituted D-galactosyl residue is a central part of the determinants recognised by the antibodies. Preliminary studies have shown these antibodies to be superior to many of the presently available human and animal polyclonal reagents for routine Lea typing of red cells.