Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of monoclonal anti-digoxin antibodies.

Eleven hybridoma cell lines secreting monoclonal anti-digoxin antibody have been produced. They are primarily gamma heavy chain and kappa light chain molecules. Affinity constants for digoxin range from 2 X 10(6) to 3.5 X 10(8) liters/mole. Fine specificity analysis using a series of digoxin congeners demonstrates that an unsaturated lactone ring attached to the aglycone at the C-17 position is necessary for hapten recognition. The impact of other changes in digoxin's structure on antibody binding were also studied. DNA hybridization analysis demonstrates that there are at least three different variable region gene arrangements used to produce the heavy chains of the different hybridoma antibodies. Correlations between antigen binding characteristics and antibody V-gene arrangements are demonstrable.