Detection of immunoglobulin heavy chain IgG3 polymorphism in wild mice with xenogeneic monoclonal antibodies.

We have generated four xenogeneic rat antimouse IgG3 monoclonal antibodies recognizing at least three different antigenic determinants (epitopes) on BALB/c IgG3 molecules. These antibodies were used in solid-phase blocking radioimmunoassays for detection of the epitopes in sera of 40 inbred strains and 134 wild mice. These antibodies detect genetic polymorphism of IgG3 isotype among wild mice even though there is no polymorphism found among 40 inbred strains tested (except X-chromosome-linked immunodeficient CBA/N strain which lacks IgG3 molecules). An IgG3 variant was also isolated from hybridomas derived from Mus spretus.